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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. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  8. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. row — to paddle
  3. tube — the underground
  4. present — there
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. cue — a signal
  7. row — a quarrel
  8. row — a line
  9. foot — a measure
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. present — the time now
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. present — a gift
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. tube — a container
  17. cue — for pool
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. lie — to recline
  21. can — a tin
  22. cue — a hint
  23. can — to be able to
  24. can — a tin

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