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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. hand — part of the body
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. wax — to grow
  5. hand — help
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. track — a song
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. hand — in cards
  12. lie — to recline
  13. track — a path
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. track — to keep track
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. hide — to keep secret

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