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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. cue — for pool
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. bore — to tire
  7. ball — a great time
  8. ball — a dance
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. bore — to drill
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. charge — electricity
  14. sharp — clever
  15. cue — a signal
  16. lie — to recline
  17. cue — a hint
  18. charge — a price
  19. charge — in control
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. mouse — for a computer

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