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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. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. board — to get on
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. mine — for digging
  5. rest — what's left
  6. mine — belonging to me
  7. rest — a break
  8. mug — to rob
  9. stem — a stem cell
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. stem — of a plant
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. stem — to come from
  15. lie — to recline
  16. mug — a face
  17. mine — an explosive
  18. mug — a cup
  19. board — a committee
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. fan — a supporter
  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