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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  12. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. clip — a video
  4. current — happening now
  5. clip — to cut
  6. charge — a price
  7. season — of the year
  8. current — of water
  9. charge — electricity
  10. season — in sport
  11. wake — before a funeral
  12. wake — a trail
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. lie — to recline
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. clip — for paper
  18. charge — in control
  19. current — electric
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. toast — bread
  23. wake — to stop sleeping
  24. season — to add flavour

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