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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: leaves · field · arm · mug · temple · can · lie · chip

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. field — a subject
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. lie — to recline
  8. field — for sport
  9. chip — for betting
  10. chip — to eat
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. can — a tin
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. can — a tin
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. mug — to rob
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. can — to be able to
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. field — farmland
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. mug — a face

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