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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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  14. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  15. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. file — a document
  3. lie — to recline
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. file — a line of people
  6. wave — with your hand
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. mug — a face
  10. saw — the tool
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. clip — a video
  14. file — a tool
  15. clip — for paper
  16. mug — a cup
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. wave — a sudden rise
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. mug — to rob
  21. clip — to cut
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. lie — an untruth

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