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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  6. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  7. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  14. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  15. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  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. lie — an untruth
  2. rock — a stone
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. mine — for digging
  6. march — the month
  7. march — the month
  8. stock — goods
  9. stock — shares
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. deal — to handle
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. cap — of ice
  14. march — music
  15. cap — a lid
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. rock — music
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. cap — a hat
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. lie — to recline
  23. safe — a strongbox
  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