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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. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  22. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. chest — a box
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. chest — of your body
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. vault — an arched ceiling
  12. stand — to bear
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. vault — in gymnastics
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. chest — of your body
  22. trunk — of a tree
  23. lie — to recline
  24. vault — a safe

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