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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. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  4. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  5. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. shower — rain
  4. fork — to eat with
  5. fork — a garden tool
  6. mate — to breed
  7. key — the most important part
  8. shower — to wash
  9. bulb — for light
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. mate — a partner
  13. current — of water
  14. mate — a friend
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. key — in music
  17. shower — a meteor shower
  18. bulb — for light
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. current — happening now
  21. current — electric
  22. key — for a lock
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. fork — in a road

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