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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. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. key — for a lock
  3. bulb — for light
  4. can — a tin
  5. bass — the fish
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. bulb — for light
  8. can — a tin
  9. key — in music
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. can — to be able to
  12. deal — to handle
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. mate — a friend
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. lie — to recline
  17. key — the most important part
  18. mate — a partner
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. mate — to breed
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. bass — low music

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