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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.

Make a worksheet

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 · foot · pitcher · stand · bore · lash · wound · fan

  1. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. stand — to bear
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. wound — past of 'wind'
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. foot — a measure
  13. bore — to drill
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. bore — to tire
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. wound — an injury
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. foot — the bottom

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