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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 little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. bear — the animal
  3. can — to be able to
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. deal — to handle
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. can — a tin
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. vault — a safe
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. sharp — clever
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. vault — an arched ceiling
  18. lie — to recline
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. vault — in gymnastics
  22. stand — to bear
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. can — a tin

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