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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. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. file — a document
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. key — for a lock
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. mug — a cup
  13. lie — to recline
  14. file — a tool
  15. key — in music
  16. mug — to rob
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. file — a line of people
  19. key — the most important part
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. mug — a face
  24. fine — high quality

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