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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 · nail · hide · spring · prune · mark · dip · ruler

  1. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. mark — a trace
  3. spring — the season
  4. mark — a grade
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. prune — to trim
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. spring — a coil
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. dip — to sink
  17. spring — of water
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. prune — to trim
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. temple — a place of worship

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