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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. There's no middle ________________.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  13. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  18. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — a position
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. prune — the fruit
  6. key — in music
  7. pit — in a race
  8. saw — the tool
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. key — for a lock
  11. board — a committee
  12. ground — crushed
  13. prune — to trim
  14. prune — to trim
  15. rush — hurry
  16. saw — the tool
  17. ground — the earth
  18. pit — a fruit stone
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. board — to get on
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. key — the most important part
  23. pit — a hole
  24. lie — to recline

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