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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. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  17. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  22. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. hand — part of the body
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. root — the cause
  6. club — a group
  7. root — of a word
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. club — for golf
  10. root — of a plant
  11. rash — hasty
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. hand — in cards
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. mine — belonging to me
  17. hand — help
  18. mine — for digging
  19. board — to get on
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. club — for dancing
  22. mine — an explosive
  23. rash — a series
  24. board — a committee

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