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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. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. lie — to recline
  3. current — electric
  4. craft — a skill
  5. tube — a container
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. craft — a handicraft
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. can — a tin
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. craft — boats
  14. tube — the underground
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. current — of water
  18. can — a tin
  19. pass — a permit
  20. can — to be able to
  21. current — happening now
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. racket — a loud noise

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