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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: temple · can · lie · cue · bore · kid · calf · ground

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  19. There's no middle ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. can — a tin
  3. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. ground — the earth
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. cue — for pool
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. kid — child
  12. bore — to tire
  13. lie — to recline
  14. cue — a signal
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. ground — crushed
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. kid — to tease
  19. ground — a position
  20. can — to be able to
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. bore — to drill
  23. cue — a hint
  24. bore — gave birth

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com