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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 · temple · track · pit · straw · leaves · craft · march

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  3. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  17. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  18. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  19. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. pit — a hole
  3. craft — a handicraft
  4. track — a path
  5. track — to keep track
  6. pit — in a race
  7. craft — a skill
  8. track — a song
  9. straw — a straw man
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. march — the month
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. march — the month
  17. march — music
  18. straw — dry grass
  19. craft — boats
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. lie — to recline
  23. straw — to clutch at straws
  24. leaves — lets stay

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