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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 120 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. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. can — a tin
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. bore — to tire
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. present — there
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. present — the time now
  9. rest — what's left
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. lie — to recline
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. rest — what's left
  14. present — a gift
  15. can — a tin
  16. bore — to drill
  17. can — to be able to
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. rest — a break
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. dip — to dunk

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