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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. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. tube — the underground
  7. row — a line
  8. can — a tin
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. tube — a container
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. can — a tin
  17. can — to be able to
  18. current — happening now
  19. current — electric
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. row — a quarrel
  22. current — of water
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. row — to paddle

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