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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  4. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  9. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  19. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. patient — calm and waiting
  4. chest — a box
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. lie — to recline
  8. bark — to shout
  9. bark — of a tree
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. firm — decided
  14. pitch — completely
  15. firm — steady
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. chest — of your body
  19. bark — a dog's sound
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. pitch — a sales talk
  22. rush — hurry
  23. chest — of your body
  24. firm — a company

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