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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. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. bulb — for light
  3. bulb — for light
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. fine — high quality
  7. bound — certain
  8. saw — the tool
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. key — the most important part
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. key — in music
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. bound — obliged
  17. saw — the tool
  18. lie — to recline
  19. fine — all right
  20. key — for a lock
  21. date — the fruit
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. bound — tied together
  24. date — on the calendar

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