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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. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. False peace will not ________________.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. last — finally
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. scale — size or range
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. tube — a container
  8. pass — a permit
  9. last — to go on
  10. scale — in music
  11. stand — to bear
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. march — the month
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. march — the month
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. march — music
  22. tube — the underground
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. last — final

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