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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. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  23. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  24. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. can — a tin
  3. toast — bread
  4. drill — a practice
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. lean — to bend
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. drill — army training
  10. wake — a trail
  11. wake — before a funeral
  12. can — to be able to
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. lie — to recline
  17. can — a tin
  18. rest — what's left
  19. rest — what's left
  20. lean — thin
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. rest — a break
  23. drill — the tool
  24. wake — to stop sleeping

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