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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: field · temple · object · wave · arm · lie · season · wake

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  5. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  16. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  17. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. season — in sport
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. wave — with your hand
  5. object — a thing
  6. wake — a trail
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. field — for sport
  14. object — to protest
  15. field — a subject
  16. field — farmland
  17. wake — to stop sleeping
  18. season — of the year
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. object — an aim
  24. lie — an untruth

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