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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. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  8. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  15. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. rule — to rule out
  3. rock — music
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. cap — of ice
  8. wound — an injury
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. wound — an injury
  11. fine — high quality
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. rule — a law
  15. cap — a lid
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. rock — a stone
  18. roll — a cake
  19. rush — hurry
  20. lie — to recline
  21. roll — a list
  22. fine — all right
  23. cap — a hat
  24. rule — government

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