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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 116 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. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. chair — to sit on
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. lie — to recline
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. rock — music
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. bulb — for light
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. track — a path
  10. track — to keep track
  11. lean — to bend
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. prune — to trim
  14. track — a song
  15. chair — a leader
  16. bulb — for light
  17. rock — a stone
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. pass — a permit
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. prune — to trim
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. chair — a professorship
  24. lean — thin

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