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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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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. saw — the tool
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. hand — in cards
  5. root — the cause
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. bark — a dog's sound
  8. can — a tin
  9. mark — a grade
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. can — a tin
  12. saw — the tool
  13. lie — to recline
  14. bank — of a river
  15. bank — for money
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. bark — to shout
  18. root — of a word
  19. hand — help
  20. mark — a trace
  21. root — of a plant
  22. can — to be able to
  23. bank — for money
  24. bark — of a tree

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