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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 ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  14. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. I got dealt a bad ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. mine — for digging
  5. tube — a container
  6. lie — to recline
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. hand — help
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. firm — steady
  12. fine — all right
  13. hand — part of the body
  14. mine — an explosive
  15. toast — bread
  16. fine — high quality
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. firm — a company
  19. mine — belonging to me
  20. tube — the underground
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. firm — decided
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. hand — 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