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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 120 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. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. charge — a price
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. bound — certain
  5. wave — of the sea
  6. lie — to recline
  7. charge — in control
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. bound — obliged
  10. pit — a hole
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. saw — the tool
  14. rash — a series
  15. wave — with your hand
  16. rash — hasty
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. charge — electricity
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. bound — tied together
  21. saw — the tool
  22. pit — in a race
  23. wave — a sudden rise
  24. pitcher — a jug

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