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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: foot · dip · rush · temple · lie · leaves · fork · pound

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  16. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  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. temple — a place of worship
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. lie — to recline
  6. pound — for dogs
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. foot — a measure
  10. pound — to hit hard
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. fork — in a road
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. pound — a weight
  16. fork — a garden tool
  17. dip — to sink
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. fork — to eat with
  23. rush — hurry
  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