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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. pit — in a race
  3. dip — to sink
  4. pit — a hole
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. dip — a sauce
  9. charge — electricity
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. rock — music
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. march — the month
  15. charge — a price
  16. rock — a stone
  17. march — music
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. march — the month
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. lie — to recline
  24. deal — to handle

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