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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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. can — to be able to
  3. lie — to recline
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. track — to keep track
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. chip — for betting
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. mug — to rob
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. can — a tin
  16. mug — a cup
  17. can — a tin
  18. bulb — for light
  19. mug — a face
  20. bulb — for light
  21. track — a path
  22. chip — to eat
  23. track — a song
  24. bulb — of a plant

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