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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. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — with a leg
  2. charge — in control
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. face — part of the head
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. current — of water
  7. mine — an explosive
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. kick — a thrill
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. rush — hurry
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. kick — in football
  16. lie — to recline
  17. charge — electricity
  18. current — electric
  19. face — to point toward
  20. charge — a price
  21. mine — for digging
  22. current — happening now
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. face — to confront

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