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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
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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: present · hide · bay · coach · lie · temple · spell · prune

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  11. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. lie — to recline
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. spell — magic
  6. spell — letters
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. spell — a short time
  9. prune — to trim
  10. hide — animal skin
  11. present — there
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. present — a gift
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. present — the time now
  24. prune — to trim

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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