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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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. can — to be able to
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. can — a tin
  6. mate — a partner
  7. rest — what's left
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. mate — to breed
  12. season — in sport
  13. face — part of the head
  14. can — a tin
  15. face — to point toward
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. season — of the year
  18. rest — a break
  19. face — to confront
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. rest — what's left
  23. foot — a measure
  24. mate — a friend

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