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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
468
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: snap · lash · bore · temple · lie · season · current · dip

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  7. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. bore — to tire
  6. dip — a sauce
  7. snap — to speak sharply
  8. dip — to sink
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. snap — to click
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. current — of water
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. lie — to recline
  16. current — electric
  17. season — in sport
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. season — of the year
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. snap — to snap out of it
  23. current — happening now
  24. bore — to drill

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