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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. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. pass — a permit
  7. foot — a measure
  8. current — electric
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. rock — a stone
  12. rock — music
  13. current — of water
  14. current — happening now
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. row — to paddle
  17. bulb — for light
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. row — a quarrel
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. row — a line
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. bulb — for light

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