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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. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  19. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. bear — the animal
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. lie — to recline
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. trunk — of a tree
  9. pass — a permit
  10. ground — the earth
  11. suit — in cards
  12. fall — to drop
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. fall — to drop
  17. ground — a position
  18. ground — crushed
  19. fall — the season
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. bear — the animal
  23. suit — clothes
  24. suit — to fit

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