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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. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. race — the arms race
  2. ball — a dance
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. mug — a face
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. mark — a trace
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. race — humankind
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. spell — letters
  13. mark — a grade
  14. rush — hurry
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. mug — to rob
  17. lie — to recline
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. spell — magic
  20. race — a contest
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. ball — a great time
  23. spell — a short time
  24. mug — a cup

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