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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. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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. bound — obliged
  4. dip — to sink
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. net — after costs
  7. present — there
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. bound — certain
  10. saw — the tool
  11. net — for catching
  12. present — the time now
  13. rock — a stone
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. bound — tied together
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. rock — music
  20. lie — to recline
  21. net — in sport
  22. present — a gift
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. dip — a sauce

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