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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. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  13. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. hand — help
  3. lie — to recline
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. fork — to eat with
  6. bank — for money
  7. fork — a garden tool
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. bank — for money
  10. can — to be able to
  11. can — a tin
  12. fork — in a road
  13. hand — in cards
  14. mate — a friend
  15. mug — a face
  16. bank — of a river
  17. mug — to rob
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. mate — to breed
  20. rash — hasty
  21. mug — a cup
  22. hand — part of the body
  23. mate — a partner
  24. can — a tin

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