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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 ________________ went through the wall.
  3. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. march — music
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. hand — in cards
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. march — the month
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. board — to get on
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. march — the month
  18. lie — to recline
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. hand — help
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. board — a committee
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. racket — a loud noise

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