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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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  4. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  5. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  10. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. The ball is in your ________________.
  16. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. That was a fun ________________.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. game — wild animals
  4. court — of a king
  5. pit — a hole
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. lie — to recline
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. game — a kind of play
  10. court — of law
  11. can — a tin
  12. dip — to sink
  13. can — a tin
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. court — for sport
  16. hide — animal skin
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. can — to be able to
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. game — a match
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. lie — an untruth

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