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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 knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. cue — for pool
  3. wax — to grow
  4. saw — the tool
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. track — a song
  7. bank — of a river
  8. cue — a signal
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. track — a path
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. cue — a hint
  16. lie — to recline
  17. track — to keep track
  18. bank — for money
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. saw — the tool
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. sharp — clever
  24. bank — for money

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