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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. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. dip — to sink
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. foot — a measure
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. lean — thin
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. lean — to bend
  11. cue — for pool
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. lie — to recline
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. saw — the tool
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. saw — the tool
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. fine — high quality
  23. cue — a signal
  24. fine — all right

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