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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. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. Have you settled on a ________________?
  6. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. False peace will not ________________.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. date — the fruit
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. roll — a list
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. key — in music
  9. last — final
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. lie — to recline
  12. fine — all right
  13. fine — high quality
  14. key — for a lock
  15. board — to get on
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. roll — a cake
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. key — the most important part
  20. last — to go on
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. last — finally
  23. board — a committee
  24. lie — an untruth

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