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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 seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. False peace will not ________________.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. lie — to recline
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. saw — the tool
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. rash — a series
  8. rash — hasty
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. face — part of the head
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. cue — for pool
  14. last — final
  15. cue — a hint
  16. saw — the tool
  17. cue — a signal
  18. last — to go on
  19. wax — to grow
  20. last — finally
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. face — to point toward
  23. pass — a permit
  24. face — to confront

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