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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 knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  7. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  8. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. When are we going to ________________?
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. rest — what's left
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. vault — in gymnastics
  7. firm — a company
  8. land — ground
  9. cue — a hint
  10. rest — what's left
  11. cue — for pool
  12. rest — a break
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. lie — to recline
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. bore — to tire
  17. sharp — clever
  18. land — to come down
  19. vault — a safe
  20. bore — to drill
  21. firm — decided
  22. cue — a signal
  23. land — a country
  24. firm — steady

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