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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 120 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: mouse · rock · bat · temple · can · spring · face · mug

  1. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  24. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.

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

Answer key

  1. bat — in an idiom
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. spring — the season
  5. can — a tin
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. bat — for baseball
  8. face — part of the head
  9. face — to point toward
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. face — to confront
  12. can — to be able to
  13. spring — of water
  14. mug — a cup
  15. rock — music
  16. mug — a face
  17. mug — to rob
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. rock — a stone
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. can — a tin
  23. bat — the animal
  24. spring — a coil

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