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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. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. track — to keep track
  4. saw — the tool
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. bowl — a dish
  7. track — a song
  8. charge — a price
  9. charge — in control
  10. cue — a signal
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. charge — electricity
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. cue — for pool
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. cue — a hint
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. track — a path
  24. saw — the tool

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