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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. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  13. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — help
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. hand — part of the body
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. toast — bread
  9. bass — the fish
  10. wax — to grow
  11. bore — to tire
  12. hand — in cards
  13. bore — to drill
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. lie — to recline
  19. bass — low music
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. bore — gave birth

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