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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. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  16. When are we going to ________________?
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  23. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  24. He's taking a ________________ right now.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. can — a tin
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. can — a tin
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. lie — to recline
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. shower — rain
  14. can — to be able to
  15. shower — a meteor shower
  16. land — to come down
  17. pit — in a race
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. pit — a hole
  22. land — ground
  23. land — a country
  24. shower — to wash

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