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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. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  2. That was a fun ________________.
  3. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  8. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. False peace will not ________________.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. When are we going to ________________?
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  23. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. last — final
  2. game — a match
  3. last — finally
  4. lean — to bend
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. game — a kind of play
  8. land — a country
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. last — to go on
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. lean — to rest against
  13. lean — thin
  14. stand — to bear
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. land — to come down
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. lie — to recline
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. land — ground
  23. game — wild animals
  24. rush — hurry

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