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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. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  14. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  21. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. bank — of a river
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. toast — bread
  7. pit — a hole
  8. lie — to recline
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. bank — for money
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. sharp — clever
  13. pit — in a race
  14. stem — to come from
  15. bank — for money
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. stem — a stem cell
  21. stem — of a plant
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. jam — in traffic

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