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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. row — a line
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. board — to get on
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. kick — in football
  8. perch — the fish
  9. board — a committee
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. kick — with a leg
  13. row — to paddle
  14. row — a quarrel
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. lie — to recline
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. kick — a thrill
  24. jam — a tight spot

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