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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 116 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 had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  2. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. There's no middle ________________.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  24. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.

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

Answer key

  1. kid — child
  2. firm — steady
  3. lie — to recline
  4. ground — crushed
  5. ground — the earth
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. firm — a company
  9. board — to get on
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. cue — for pool
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. board — a committee
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. cue — a signal
  17. cue — a hint
  18. firm — decided
  19. ground — a position
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  24. kid — to tease

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