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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 120 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. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  20. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  21. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. saw — the tool
  6. chair — to sit on
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. chair — a leader
  9. saw — the tool
  10. spell — a short time
  11. lie — to recline
  12. vault — a safe
  13. spell — letters
  14. spell — magic
  15. vault — an arched ceiling
  16. foot — a measure
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. mate — a friend
  19. chair — a professorship
  20. vault — in gymnastics
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. mate — a partner
  24. patient — calm and waiting

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