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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 120 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. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. bark — a dog's sound
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. cap — of ice
  5. cap — a lid
  6. mate — a partner
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. key — in music
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. bark — to shout
  12. bore — to drill
  13. cap — a hat
  14. lie — to recline
  15. bore — to tire
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. key — for a lock
  19. mate — a friend
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. mate — to breed
  22. key — the most important part
  23. bark — of a tree
  24. leaves — of a tree

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