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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 hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  22. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. can — a tin
  4. sharp — clever
  5. band — a rubber band
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. chip — for betting
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. season — in sport
  11. can — a tin
  12. band — a ring
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. season — of the year
  21. chip — to eat
  22. band — a music group
  23. can — to be able to
  24. season — to add flavour

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