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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: squash · temple · bear · plane · lash · face · tube · dip

  1. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  15. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to point toward
  2. tube — a container
  3. bear — the animal
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. squash — the sport
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. face — part of the head
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. squash — to crush
  13. plane — a tool
  14. squash — the vegetable
  15. face — to confront
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. tube — the underground
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. dip — to sink
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. bear — the animal
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. temple — a place of worship

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