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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 120 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. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  8. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. False peace will not ________________.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  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. foot — part of the body
  2. saw — the tool
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. rock — music
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. lie — to recline
  7. last — finally
  8. dip — a sauce
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. face — part of the head
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. pass — a permit
  13. saw — the tool
  14. face — to point toward
  15. last — to go on
  16. rock — a stone
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. dip — to sink
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. face — to confront
  23. last — final
  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