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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. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  18. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  24. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.

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

Answer key

  1. club — for dancing
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. can — a tin
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. key — for a lock
  7. can — to be able to
  8. wind — moving air
  9. key — the most important part
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. fine — high quality
  12. key — in music
  13. can — a tin
  14. lie — to recline
  15. fine — all right
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. club — for golf
  18. wind — moving air
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. wind — to turn a key
  24. club — a group

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