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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. Have you settled on a ________________?
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  10. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. bulb — for light
  4. bulb — for light
  5. rock — a stone
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. lie — to recline
  9. date — the fruit
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. season — of the year
  13. lean — to bend
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. season — in sport
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. rock — music
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. lean — thin
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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