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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. There's no middle ________________.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. mug — a cup
  3. mug — a face
  4. degree — temperature
  5. suit — clothes
  6. net — in sport
  7. sharp — clever
  8. ground — crushed
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. net — for catching
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. degree — an amount
  13. net — after costs
  14. bulb — for light
  15. ground — the earth
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. suit — to fit
  18. mug — to rob
  19. bulb — for light
  20. ground — a position
  21. lie — to recline
  22. degree — from a university
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. suit — in cards

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