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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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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: lie · snap · roll · pitch · suit · rock · temple · pound

  1. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  15. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to click
  2. rock — a stone
  3. roll — a list
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. suit — clothes
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. suit — in cards
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. suit — to fit
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. pound — to hit hard
  15. pound — for dogs
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. roll — a cake
  18. snap — to speak sharply
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. snap — to snap out of it
  21. lie — to recline
  22. pitch — completely
  23. pound — a weight
  24. rock — music

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