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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.

Make a worksheet

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: mark · spring · toast · temple · coach · straw · lie · fan

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  24. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. spring — a coil
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. mark — a trace
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. lie — to recline
  10. spring — of water
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. toast — bread
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. straw — a straw man
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. spring — the season
  21. mark — a grade
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. straw — to clutch at straws
  24. straw — dry grass

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