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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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  12. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  13. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  14. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  24. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. current — happening now
  3. current — of water
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. bore — to drill
  6. cue — for pool
  7. suit — to fit
  8. fall — to drop
  9. lie — to recline
  10. current — electric
  11. hand — help
  12. hand — in cards
  13. kick — in football
  14. kick — with a leg
  15. cue — a signal
  16. suit — clothes
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. bore — to tire
  19. fall — the season
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. cue — a hint
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. fall — to drop
  24. kick — a thrill

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