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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. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  8. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. The ball is in your ________________.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. snap — to snap out of it
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. deal — to handle
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. pit — in a race
  8. court — of a king
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. key — for a lock
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. lie — to recline
  13. snap — to speak sharply
  14. branch — a division
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. key — in music
  17. key — the most important part
  18. pit — a hole
  19. court — for sport
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. court — of law
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. snap — to click
  24. safe — out of danger

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