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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. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. clip — to cut
  3. cue — a hint
  4. rash — a series
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. rock — a stone
  12. lie — to recline
  13. clip — for paper
  14. cue — a signal
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. rock — music
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. rash — hasty
  20. cue — for pool
  21. clip — a video
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. lie — an untruth

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