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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: toast · temple · lie · sharp · net · stand · fine · present

  1. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. net — after costs
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. net — in sport
  5. fine — high quality
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. present — the time now
  8. fine — all right
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. present — a gift
  11. sharp — clever
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. lie — to recline
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. present — there
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. stand — to bear
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. toast — bread
  24. net — for catching

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