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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 120 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. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. The ball is in your ________________.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. court — of law
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. sharp — clever
  6. pass — a permit
  7. bore — to drill
  8. hand — help
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. bank — for money
  11. can — to be able to
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. court — for sport
  14. can — a tin
  15. bank — of a river
  16. court — of a king
  17. lie — to recline
  18. can — a tin
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. bank — for money
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. hand — in cards
  23. bore — to tire
  24. pass — to spend time

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