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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. bore — to tire
  4. dip — to sink
  5. chest — of your body
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. bore — to drill
  11. chest — of your body
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. saw — the tool
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. saw — the tool
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. chest — a box
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. toast — bread
  22. lie — to recline
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. bore — gave birth

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