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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 got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  9. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  17. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  20. When are we going to ________________?
  21. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. craft — boats
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. bulb — for light
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. lie — to recline
  8. land — a country
  9. prune — to trim
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. prune — to trim
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. foot — a measure
  14. kid — to tease
  15. bulb — for light
  16. land — ground
  17. kid — child
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. craft — a skill
  20. land — to come down
  21. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  22. fine — high quality
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. fine — all right

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