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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 116 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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. lie — to recline
  3. sharp — clever
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. wake — a trail
  6. can — a tin
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. can — a tin
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. current — of water
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. current — electric
  15. can — to be able to
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. current — happening now

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