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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.

Make a worksheet

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 hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. prune — to trim
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. prune — the fruit
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. mine — for digging
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. scale — in music
  13. mine — an explosive
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. scale — size or range
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. prune — to trim
  22. mine — belonging to me
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. safe — a strongbox

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