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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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. stock — shares
  4. row — a quarrel
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. saw — the tool
  8. stock — goods
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. ball — a dance
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. firm — decided
  13. ball — a great time
  14. saw — the tool
  15. row — to paddle
  16. firm — a company
  17. roll — a cake
  18. lie — to recline
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. roll — a list
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. firm — steady
  24. row — a line

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