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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. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. spring — the season
  4. lie — to recline
  5. track — to keep track
  6. net — in sport
  7. fine — all right
  8. ball — a dance
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. spring — a coil
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. fine — high quality
  16. spring — of water
  17. ball — a great time
  18. net — for catching
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. net — after costs
  21. track — a song
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. track — a path

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