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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 120 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.

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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: stem · mark · cue · dip · temple · hide · perch · lie

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. cue — a hint
  6. perch — the fish
  7. stem — a stem cell
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. stem — to come from
  10. mark — a grade
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. dip — to sink
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. cue — for pool
  20. stem — of a plant
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. lie — to recline
  23. cue — a signal
  24. mark — to pay attention

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