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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. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. saw — the tool
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. board — a committee
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. net — in sport
  9. cue — for pool
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. stand — to bear
  13. cue — a hint
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. board — to get on
  17. prune — to trim
  18. cue — a signal
  19. prune — the fruit
  20. net — for catching
  21. net — after costs
  22. lie — to recline
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. prune — to trim

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