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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.

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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 · rest · court · mark · foot · can · cue · temple

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. The ball is in your ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. rest — what's left
  3. foot — a measure
  4. cue — for pool
  5. cue — a signal
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. court — of a king
  8. cue — a hint
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. mark — a trace
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. court — of law
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. rest — a break
  17. mark — a grade
  18. can — a tin
  19. lie — to recline
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. can — to be able to
  23. rest — what's left
  24. court — for sport

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