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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. My mare is ________________ in color.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a horse colour
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. bank — for money
  5. face — to confront
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. rest — what's left
  9. face — to point toward
  10. mug — a cup
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. mug — to rob
  13. mine — belonging to me
  14. bank — for money
  15. rest — what's left
  16. mug — a face
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. face — part of the head
  19. mine — for digging
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. bank — of a river
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. rest — a break
  24. lie — to recline

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