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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: bay · temple · game · spell · lie · pitcher · cue · stem

  1. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  18. That was a fun ________________.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. spell — a short time
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. stem — to come from
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. lie — to recline
  9. game — a kind of play
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. spell — magic
  12. cue — for pool
  13. game — wild animals
  14. spell — letters
  15. cue — a hint
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. stem — a stem cell
  18. game — a match
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. cue — a signal
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. stem — of a plant
  23. temple — a place of worship
  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