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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. track — a song
  5. can — a tin
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. face — to point toward
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. face — part of the head
  10. face — to confront
  11. perch — the fish
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. branch — a division
  14. can — a tin
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. track — a path
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. track — to keep track
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. lie — to recline
  23. can — to be able to
  24. leaves — lets stay

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