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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. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. lie — to recline
  4. sharp — clever
  5. mark — a trace
  6. object — to protest
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. object — a thing
  9. bank — for money
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. pitch — completely
  12. object — an aim
  13. kid — child
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. kid — to tease
  16. mark — a grade
  17. rush — hurry
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. bank — of a river
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. bank — for money
  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