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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  17. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. cap — a hat
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. fine — all right
  6. chest — of your body
  7. fine — high quality
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. suit — in cards
  10. cap — a lid
  11. suit — to fit
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. chest — a box
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. chest — of your body
  17. present — a gift
  18. sharp — clever
  19. present — there
  20. cap — of ice
  21. lie — to recline
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. present — the time now
  24. suit — clothes

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