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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. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. There's no middle ________________.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  21. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. bulb — for light
  3. object — an aim
  4. charge — electricity
  5. rash — hasty
  6. bulb — for light
  7. mark — a trace
  8. rash — a series
  9. charge — in control
  10. ground — a position
  11. mug — a cup
  12. mug — a face
  13. lie — to recline
  14. charge — a price
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. ground — the earth
  18. mug — to rob
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. ground — crushed
  21. object — a thing
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. mark — a grade
  24. object — to protest

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