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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. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  7. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. lie — to recline
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. cap — a lid
  5. rash — hasty
  6. cap — of ice
  7. band — a ring
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. mark — a grade
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. suit — to fit
  13. suit — clothes
  14. rash — a series
  15. band — a rubber band
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. cap — a hat
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. band — a music group
  22. suit — in cards
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. mark — a trace

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