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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 120 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. That must've been a ________________.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. lie — to recline
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. chip — for betting
  6. mug — to rob
  7. mug — a cup
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. wake — to stop sleeping
  10. chip — to eat
  11. pitch — completely
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. rush — hurry
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. wake — a trail
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. pitch — a sports field
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. sharp — clever
  24. mug — a face

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