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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. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. He's taking a ________________ right now.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. key — for a lock
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. lie — to recline
  6. key — the most important part
  7. lean — to bend
  8. mate — a friend
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. shower — rain
  11. pit — a hole
  12. lean — thin
  13. season — of the year
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. key — in music
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. stand — to bear
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. season — in sport
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. mate — a partner
  23. pit — in a race
  24. shower — to wash

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