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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 116 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. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  10. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  11. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  16. When are we going to ________________?
  17. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. row — to paddle
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. rock — a stone
  5. wax — to grow
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. deal — to handle
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. land — ground
  10. bat — in an idiom
  11. row — a line
  12. lie — to recline
  13. bat — the animal
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. land — a country
  16. land — to come down
  17. bat — for baseball
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. rock — music
  24. wax — for sculpting

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