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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. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. wake — a trail
  3. bound — tied together
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. bound — obliged
  8. fine — high quality
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. bound — certain
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. root — the cause
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. root — of a word
  16. fine — all right
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. rush — hurry
  20. root — of a plant
  21. lie — to recline
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. wake — before a funeral

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