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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. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  9. There's no middle ________________.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. That was a fun ________________.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  22. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. march — music
  3. ground — the earth
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. game — a kind of play
  9. ground — a position
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. game — a match
  15. fine — all right
  16. game — wild animals
  17. fine — high quality
  18. lie — to recline
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. roll — a list
  21. ground — crushed
  22. march — the month
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. roll — a cake

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