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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. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  21. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. pit — a hole
  3. scale — size or range
  4. pitch — completely
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. can — to be able to
  7. can — a tin
  8. current — happening now
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. current — electric
  12. current — of water
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. scale — for weighing
  15. lie — to recline
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. rash — hasty
  18. scale — in music
  19. rash — a series
  20. pitch — a sports field
  21. pitch — a sales talk
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. can — a tin
  24. pit — in a race

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