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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. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. suit — clothes
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. suit — in cards
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. lean — thin
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. suit — to fit
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. wax — to grow
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. lie — to recline
  16. bass — the fish
  17. lean — to rest against
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. sharp — clever
  21. wound — past of 'wind'
  22. bass — low music
  23. wound — an injury
  24. lean — to bend

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