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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: temple · cue · lash · perch · leaves · jam · mark · press

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. cue — a signal
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. mark — a trace
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. cue — a hint
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. press — to push
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. mark — a grade
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. perch — the fish
  19. cue — for pool
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. press — a publisher
  23. press — newspapers
  24. temple — a place of worship

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