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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 116 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've got to change the light ________________.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  8. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. bulb — for light
  3. suit — clothes
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. lie — to recline
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. clip — for paper
  8. clip — a video
  9. bulb — for light
  10. suit — to fit
  11. suit — in cards
  12. firm — a company
  13. clip — to cut
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. firm — decided
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. deal — to handle
  23. mine — for digging
  24. firm — steady

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