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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 116 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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  5. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. False peace will not ________________.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. fine — high quality
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. band — a rubber band
  5. last — finally
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. last — to go on
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. band — a music group
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. lie — to recline
  12. last — final
  13. fine — all right
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. saw — the tool
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. band — a ring
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. saw — the tool
  24. safe — out of danger

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