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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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. prune — to trim
  4. pass — a permit
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. tube — the underground
  8. bound — tied together
  9. track — a path
  10. bound — certain
  11. lie — to recline
  12. track — a song
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. wax — to grow
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. bound — obliged
  19. tube — a container
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. prune — to trim
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. track — to keep track
  24. cabinet — ministers

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