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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. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  7. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. David sat on the ________________.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. drill — a practice
  6. wound — an injury
  7. swing — music
  8. rest — what's left
  9. swing — in golf
  10. drill — army training
  11. drill — the tool
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. rash — hasty
  14. chip — for betting
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. lie — to recline
  17. rest — what's left
  18. rest — a break
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. swing — to play on
  21. rash — a series
  22. wax — to grow
  23. chip — to eat
  24. lie — an untruth

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