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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'll be taking the ________________.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. tube — the underground
  2. can — a tin
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. row — a line
  5. spell — magic
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. bass — the fish
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. bass — low music
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. spell — a short time
  12. pass — a permit
  13. can — a tin
  14. row — a quarrel
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. row — to paddle
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. can — to be able to
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. tube — a container
  22. spell — letters
  23. lie — to recline
  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