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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 120 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: foot · prune · hide · can · temple · deal · dip · stock

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  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. temple — side of the head
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. stock — shares
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. foot — a measure
  11. deal — to handle
  12. prune — to trim
  13. can — to be able to
  14. can — a tin
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. can — a tin
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. stock — goods
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. prune — to trim
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. dip — to sink
  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