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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. False peace will not ________________.
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. saw — the tool
  3. last — finally
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. mug — to rob
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. foot — a measure
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. lie — to recline
  11. mug — a face
  12. saw — the tool
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. last — final
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. mug — a cup
  19. last — to go on
  20. dip — to sink
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. foot — part of the body

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