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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. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. lie — to recline
  3. lean — thin
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. row — a quarrel
  6. current — electric
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. fine — high quality
  9. tube — the underground
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. row — to paddle
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. current — of water
  15. lean — to bend
  16. sharp — clever
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. tube — a container
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. fine — all right
  21. current — happening now
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. row — a line
  24. lie — an untruth

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