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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. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  7. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  11. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. rest — what's left
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. wake — before a funeral
  7. shower — to wash
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. shower — rain
  10. wake — to stop sleeping
  11. pit — in a race
  12. rest — a break
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. wake — a trail
  16. pit — a hole
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. rest — what's left
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. trunk — of a tree
  23. lie — to recline
  24. lash — to lash out

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