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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  4. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. capital — money
  4. capital — a city
  5. lie — to recline
  6. suit — to fit
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. bulb — for light
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. suit — in cards
  11. branch — a division
  12. rash — hasty
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. capital — a big letter
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. rash — a series
  23. bulb — for light
  24. suit — clothes

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