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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. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. content — the amount
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. bore — to tire
  5. wake — to stop sleeping
  6. bore — to drill
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. wake — a trail
  9. lie — to recline
  10. content — happy
  11. sharp — clever
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. rock — a stone
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. can — a tin
  16. can — a tin
  17. pit — in a race
  18. pit — a hole
  19. content — videos and posts
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. can — to be able to
  23. rock — music
  24. sharp — exactly

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