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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. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  10. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — in cards
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. face — part of the head
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. season — in sport
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. face — to point toward
  10. hand — part of the body
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. key — for a lock
  13. wax — to grow
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. face — to confront
  16. season — of the year
  17. lie — to recline
  18. key — in music
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. key — the most important part
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. hand — help
  24. bowl — a dish

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