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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 soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. current — of water
  5. drill — the tool
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. lie — to recline
  8. bulb — for light
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. hand — help
  11. current — happening now
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. lean — to bend
  14. hand — in cards
  15. bulb — for light
  16. drill — a practice
  17. lean — thin
  18. current — electric
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. lean — to rest against

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