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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  17. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  18. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. deal — to handle
  3. ball — a great time
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. suit — to fit
  7. march — the month
  8. wake — a trail
  9. bound — obliged
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. lie — to recline
  12. ball — a dance
  13. march — music
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. wake — before a funeral
  17. wake — to stop sleeping
  18. march — the month
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. suit — clothes
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. bound — tied together
  23. suit — in cards
  24. bound — certain

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