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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. rock — music
  5. wound — past of 'wind'
  6. lean — to bend
  7. current — of water
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. snap — to snap out of it
  10. current — electric
  11. wound — an injury
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. rock — a stone
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. lean — thin
  16. stand — to bear
  17. lie — to recline
  18. wound — an injury
  19. toast — bread
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. snap — to speak sharply
  22. current — happening now
  23. snap — to click
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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