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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 116 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. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. dip — a sauce
  4. lie — to recline
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. bear — the animal
  8. cue — a signal
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. stock — goods
  12. bear — the animal
  13. dip — to sink
  14. stock — shares
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. wax — to grow
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. spell — a short time
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. cue — for pool
  23. cue — a hint
  24. spell — letters

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