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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. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  18. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  24. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. squash — the sport
  6. mark — a trace
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. bore — to tire
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. row — to paddle
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. squash — to crush
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. row — a line
  18. hand — help
  19. bore — to drill
  20. hand — in cards
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. mark — a grade
  23. row — a quarrel
  24. hand — part of the body

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