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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  9. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  10. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. squash — the vegetable
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. trunk — of a tree
  9. pitch — completely
  10. object — an aim
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. bulb — for light
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. wake — a trail
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. lie — to recline
  17. squash — to crush
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. object — a thing
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. bulb — for light
  22. squash — the sport
  23. object — to protest
  24. wake — before a funeral

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