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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. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. Have you settled on a ________________?
  13. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. can — a tin
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. can — to be able to
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. staff — a stick
  8. ball — a dance
  9. foot — a measure
  10. lie — to recline
  11. charge — in control
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. date — the fruit
  14. staff — employees
  15. charge — a price
  16. charge — electricity
  17. staff — employees
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. can — a tin
  21. sharp — clever
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. sharp — with an edge

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