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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. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. That was a fun ________________.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  7. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. wake — a trail
  3. game — a match
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. game — wild animals
  7. game — a kind of play
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. rest — what's left
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. branch — a division
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. rest — what's left
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. rest — a break
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. racket — a loud noise

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