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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: lie · mouse · pit · scale · track · temple · mate · calf

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. track — a path
  4. scale — in music
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. track — to keep track
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. lie — to recline
  9. pit — in a race
  10. pit — a hole
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. scale — size or range
  13. mate — a partner
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. mate — a friend
  19. track — a song
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. mate — to breed

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