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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. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. stand — to bear
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. spring — of water
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. ball — a great time
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. spring — the season
  10. cue — for pool
  11. bank — for money
  12. cue — a signal
  13. mine — belonging to me
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. ball — a dance
  16. cue — a hint
  17. mine — for digging
  18. lean — thin
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. bank — for money
  21. spring — a coil
  22. lie — to recline
  23. bank — of a river
  24. lean — to bend

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