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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. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  9. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  10. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. That was a fun ________________.
  21. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a line
  2. lie — to recline
  3. can — a tin
  4. can — to be able to
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. row — a quarrel
  7. can — a tin
  8. race — the arms race
  9. game — wild animals
  10. race — a contest
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. season — of the year
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. race — humankind
  18. season — in sport
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. game — a match
  21. row — to paddle
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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