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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. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  11. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  15. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. can — to be able to
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. cue — for pool
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. foot — a measure
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. wound — an injury
  11. wound — past of 'wind'
  12. can — a tin
  13. cue — a signal
  14. wave — with your hand
  15. wave — a sudden rise
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. cue — a hint
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. wound — an injury
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. can — a tin
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. wave — of the sea

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