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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. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. wound — an injury
  3. lie — to recline
  4. bound — tied together
  5. bound — obliged
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. wound — an injury
  10. wax — to grow
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. can — a tin
  13. wound — past of 'wind'
  14. rash — a series
  15. rash — hasty
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. toast — bread
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. can — a tin
  23. bound — certain
  24. can — to be able to

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