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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. chip — for betting
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. cue — a hint
  6. lie — to recline
  7. pitch — a sales talk
  8. squash — to crush
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. pitch — completely
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. squash — the vegetable
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. chip — to eat
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. cue — for pool
  21. cue — a signal
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. squash — the sport
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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