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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  23. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. lie — to recline
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. bass — the fish
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. bound — tied together
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. row — a line
  10. key — in music
  11. mark — a grade
  12. bass — low music
  13. bound — certain
  14. key — for a lock
  15. mark — a trace
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. fine — all right
  18. lean — thin
  19. key — the most important part
  20. bound — obliged
  21. lean — to bend
  22. row — a quarrel
  23. row — to paddle
  24. fine — high quality

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