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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. can — a tin
  6. spell — magic
  7. lie — to recline
  8. can — to be able to
  9. saw — the tool
  10. cap — a lid
  11. spell — letters
  12. can — a tin
  13. cap — a hat
  14. stand — to bear
  15. drill — army training
  16. foot — a measure
  17. drill — a practice
  18. spell — a short time
  19. cap — of ice
  20. saw — the tool
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. drill — the tool
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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