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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. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. key — the most important part
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. key — for a lock
  6. pit — a hole
  7. key — in music
  8. wax — to grow
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. mark — a trace
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. pit — in a race
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. cue — a signal
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. cue — a hint
  20. perch — the fish
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. cue — for pool
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. mark — a grade

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