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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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. suit — clothes
  4. net — for catching
  5. net — in sport
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. net — after costs
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. saw — the tool
  12. straw — a straw man
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. saw — the tool
  15. straw — dry grass
  16. suit — to fit
  17. lie — to recline
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. straw — to clutch at straws
  22. pass — a permit
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. suit — in cards

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