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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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. rash — hasty
  5. suit — clothes
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. rash — a series
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. net — in sport
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. face — part of the head
  12. lie — to recline
  13. suit — in cards
  14. face — to point toward
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. sharp — clever
  20. net — for catching
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. face — to confront
  23. suit — to fit
  24. net — after costs

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