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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 116 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. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. wind — to turn a key
  3. lie — to recline
  4. can — a tin
  5. bulb — for light
  6. wind — moving air
  7. bass — low music
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. bulb — for light
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. bound — obliged
  12. bound — tied together
  13. bass — the fish
  14. stand — to bear
  15. mark — a grade
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. can — to be able to
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. mark — a trace
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. wind — moving air
  23. bound — certain
  24. can — a tin

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