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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. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  8. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. pop — music
  3. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. bass — the fish
  7. wave — of the sea
  8. kid — child
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. saw — the tool
  11. mug — a cup
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. bass — low music
  15. pop — to visit
  16. mug — to rob
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. wave — a sudden rise
  19. pop — soda
  20. saw — the tool
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. mug — a face
  23. lie — to recline
  24. kid — to tease

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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