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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 band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. march — music
  2. lie — to recline
  3. pit — in a race
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. march — the month
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. charge — in control
  8. lean — to bend
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. sharp — clever
  11. charge — electricity
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. pit — a hole
  14. charge — a price
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. march — the month
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. lean — thin

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