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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.

Make a worksheet

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. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  14. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. bore — to tire
  3. fine — all right
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. scale — size or range
  7. scale — in music
  8. tube — the underground
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. fine — high quality
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. bore — to drill
  13. chest — of your body
  14. chest — of your body
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. tube — a container
  17. lie — to recline
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. chest — a box
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. nail — for a hammer

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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