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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. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. lie — to recline
  3. current — of water
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. bear — the animal
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. bound — certain
  9. bear — the animal
  10. roll — a list
  11. bound — tied together
  12. chip — to eat
  13. bound — obliged
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. roll — a cake
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. current — electric
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. current — happening now
  21. chip — for betting
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. roll — on a roll
  24. leaves — to go away

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