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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 hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  17. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  18. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. Do you need a ________________ with that?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. hand — part of the body
  3. board — a committee
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. spring — of water
  11. foot — a measure
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. bank — for money
  14. bank — of a river
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. spring — a coil
  17. hand — in cards
  18. spring — the season
  19. toast — bread
  20. board — to get on
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. bank — for money
  24. hand — help

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