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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  23. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. spell — magic
  4. suit — to fit
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. branch — a division
  8. rash — a series
  9. band — a ring
  10. suit — clothes
  11. spell — a short time
  12. suit — in cards
  13. cap — a lid
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. spell — letters
  16. rash — hasty
  17. cap — of ice
  18. ball — a great time
  19. band — a rubber band
  20. ball — a dance
  21. lie — to recline
  22. cap — a hat
  23. band — a music group
  24. ball — a round shape

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