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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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Word bank
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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. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. That was a fun ________________.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. lie — to recline
  4. game — wild animals
  5. fine — all right
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. pitch — completely
  8. fine — high quality
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. pitch — a sports field
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. bass — the fish
  13. game — a match
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. game — a kind of play
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. roll — a list
  18. bass — low music
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. roll — a cake
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. arm — a part of something

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