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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 116 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. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. There's no middle ________________.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  12. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. can — a tin
  5. can — a tin
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. lie — to recline
  8. ground — a position
  9. saw — the tool
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. vault — a safe
  12. vault — in gymnastics
  13. saw — the tool
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. board — a committee
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. board — to get on
  18. perch — the fish
  19. can — to be able to
  20. rush — hurry
  21. vault — an arched ceiling
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. ground — the earth
  24. ground — crushed

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