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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. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. cue — a hint
  3. cap — a lid
  4. lie — to recline
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. scale — size or range
  8. pop — soda
  9. pop — music
  10. cap — a hat
  11. cue — a signal
  12. hand — in cards
  13. charge — electricity
  14. pop — to visit
  15. cap — of ice
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. cue — for pool
  18. charge — in control
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. hand — help
  21. scale — in music
  22. charge — a price
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. foot — a measure

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