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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. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. charge — in control
  4. can — a tin
  5. lean — to bend
  6. lean — thin
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. charge — electricity
  9. sharp — clever
  10. lean — to rest against
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. track — to keep track
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. can — to be able to
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. can — a tin
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. track — a path
  19. ball — a great time
  20. ball — a dance
  21. track — a song
  22. charge — a price
  23. lie — to recline
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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