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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  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. lie — an untruth
  2. suit — clothes
  3. fine — all right
  4. fine — high quality
  5. suit — to fit
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. chip — to eat
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. shower — a meteor shower
  13. mark — a grade
  14. mark — a trace
  15. scale — size or range
  16. scale — in music
  17. shower — rain
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. shower — to wash
  20. suit — in cards
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. chip — for betting
  23. lie — to recline
  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