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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. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. lie — to recline
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. track — a song
  5. row — a line
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. row — a quarrel
  9. track — to keep track
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. sharp — clever
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. track — a path
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. row — to paddle
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. season — in sport
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. bay — to keep at bay
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. season — of the year

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