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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. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. prune — to trim
  3. key — in music
  4. bore — to drill
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. prune — to trim
  7. fine — high quality
  8. bank — of a river
  9. shower — a meteor shower
  10. fine — all right
  11. shower — to wash
  12. key — for a lock
  13. shower — rain
  14. bank — for money
  15. bore — to tire
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. key — the most important part
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. branch — a division
  23. lie — to recline
  24. bank — for money

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