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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. When are we going to ________________?
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. land — to come down
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. lie — to recline
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. rash — hasty
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. land — ground
  9. key — for a lock
  10. rest — what's left
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. key — in music
  14. land — a country
  15. rest — a break
  16. prune — to trim
  17. prune — to trim
  18. bulb — for light
  19. prune — the fruit
  20. rash — a series
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. key — the most important part
  23. rest — what's left
  24. bulb — for light

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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