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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. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  19. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  20. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  21. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. cue — for pool
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. cue — a signal
  5. bulb — for light
  6. cue — a hint
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. drill — a practice
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. prune — to trim
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. prune — to trim
  15. bulb — for light
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. drill — the tool
  19. pound — to hit hard
  20. drill — army training
  21. pound — a weight
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. pound — for dogs
  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