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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. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. suit — clothes
  5. mate — to breed
  6. suit — in cards
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. spell — magic
  9. file — a document
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. prune — to trim
  12. spell — letters
  13. suit — to fit
  14. mate — a partner
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. spell — a short time
  19. lie — to recline
  20. mate — a friend
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. file — a tool
  23. prune — to trim
  24. file — a line of people

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