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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 120 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 · chip · fine · last · prune · fall · lie · nail

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  12. False peace will not ________________.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. last — finally
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. chip — for betting
  5. prune — to trim
  6. fine — all right
  7. fall — the season
  8. fine — high quality
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. chip — to eat
  11. fall — to drop
  12. last — to go on
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. prune — to trim
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. last — final
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. fall — to drop
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. lie — to recline
  24. fine — a penalty

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