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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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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. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. There's no middle ________________.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  21. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. ground — a position
  4. tube — the underground
  5. ground — the earth
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. scale — size or range
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. bark — of a tree
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. ground — crushed
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. tube — a container
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. bark — a dog's sound
  21. bark — to shout
  22. scale — in music
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. fan — to cool the air

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