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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. Have you settled on a ________________?
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. saw — the tool
  4. roll — a list
  5. lean — to bend
  6. stock — goods
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. lean — thin
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. roll — a cake
  12. saw — the tool
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. stock — shares
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. mate — to breed
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. lie — to recline
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. mate — a partner
  22. date — the fruit
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. mate — a friend

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