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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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  16. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. spring — of water
  6. lie — to recline
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. firm — decided
  9. firm — steady
  10. pit — in a race
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. pit — a hole
  14. toast — bread
  15. squash — to crush
  16. squash — the sport
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. saw — the tool
  19. spring — a coil
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. spring — the season
  22. firm — a company
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. squash — the vegetable

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