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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 116 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. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  2. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  24. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.

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

Answer key

  1. tear — to rip
  2. tear — from crying
  3. board — to get on
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. saw — the tool
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. lie — to recline
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. spell — magic
  13. spell — a short time
  14. season — in sport
  15. track — to keep track
  16. track — a song
  17. season — of the year
  18. saw — the tool
  19. board — a committee
  20. spell — letters
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. track — a path
  23. pitch — completely
  24. tear — from crying

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