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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: lie · mug · rock · spring · bear · sharp · hide · temple

  1. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  7. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. rock — a stone
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. bear — the animal
  5. mug — to rob
  6. spring — a coil
  7. spring — of water
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. spring — the season
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. lie — to recline
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. bear — the animal
  19. mug — a face
  20. rock — music
  21. sharp — clever
  22. mug — a cup
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. hide — to keep secret

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