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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 · dip · pit · object · spell · mug · snap · root

  1. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. snap — to snap out of it
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. snap — to click
  5. mug — a cup
  6. spell — letters
  7. object — to protest
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. spell — a short time
  10. root — of a word
  11. root — the cause
  12. pit — in a race
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. spell — magic
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. object — a thing
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. snap — to speak sharply
  19. root — of a plant
  20. mug — to rob
  21. pit — a hole
  22. dip — to sink
  23. mug — a face
  24. dip — a sauce

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