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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 124 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. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. Have you settled on a ________________?
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. squash — the sport
  5. lie — to recline
  6. date — the fruit
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. squash — the vegetable
  9. suit — to fit
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. suit — in cards
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. squash — to crush
  14. spell — magic
  15. spell — letters
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. pit — in a race
  18. spell — a short time
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. suit — clothes
  22. lean — thin
  23. lean — to bend
  24. pit — a hole

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