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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. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. cap — a lid
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. can — a tin
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. cap — a hat
  10. can — to be able to
  11. cap — of ice
  12. rest — what's left
  13. scale — size or range
  14. wound — an injury
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. rest — what's left
  18. can — a tin
  19. rest — a break
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. scale — in music
  22. wound — past of 'wind'
  23. lie — to recline
  24. rush — hurry

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