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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.

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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: mark · fork · mug · nail · temple · stand · lash · foot

  1. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  13. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. mug — to rob
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. mark — a grade
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. mug — a cup
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. fork — a garden tool
  13. fork — in a road
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. mark — a trace
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. foot — a measure
  20. stand — to bear
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. fork — to eat with
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. lash — to lash out

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