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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 120 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. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. key — the most important part
  3. bear — the animal
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. bear — the animal
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. key — for a lock
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. key — in music
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. branch — a division
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. stand — to bear
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. fan — to cool the air

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