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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. drill — the tool
  4. charge — a price
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. drill — army training
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. fork — in a road
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. perch — the fish
  13. lie — to recline
  14. charge — electricity
  15. fork — a garden tool
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. drill — a practice
  20. stand — to bear
  21. fork — to eat with
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. branch — a division
  24. charge — in control

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