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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. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. net — for catching
  5. net — after costs
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. dip — a sauce
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. cap — a lid
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. cap — a hat
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. dip — to sink
  19. net — in sport
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. deal — to handle
  22. cap — of ice
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. hide — to keep secret

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