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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. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. firm — decided
  3. rash — hasty
  4. rash — a series
  5. lie — to recline
  6. can — a tin
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. spring — the season
  10. rock — music
  11. can — to be able to
  12. rock — a stone
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. firm — a company
  15. firm — steady
  16. mark — a grade
  17. spring — a coil
  18. can — a tin
  19. spring — of water
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. perch — the fish
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. mark — a trace

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