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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 120 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. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  20. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. foot — a measure
  5. sharp — clever
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. rash — hasty
  13. mark — a grade
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. mark — a trace
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  20. kid — child
  21. lie — to recline
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. kid — to tease
  24. rash — a series

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