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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. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. pitch — a sports field
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. tube — the underground
  6. saw — the tool
  7. saw — the tool
  8. spell — magic
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. tube — a container
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. pitch — completely
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. spell — a short time
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. spell — letters
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. lie — to recline
  24. jam — in traffic

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