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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  18. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. rock — a stone
  3. rock — music
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. lean — thin
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. lie — to recline
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. hand — help
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. sharp — clever
  15. bore — to tire
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. pitch — completely
  18. hand — in cards
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. bore — to drill
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. lean — to bend
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. pitch — a sales talk

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