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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. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. spell — magic
  6. key — the most important part
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. snap — to speak sharply
  10. cue — for pool
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. spell — letters
  13. cue — a signal
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. key — for a lock
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. patient — calm and waiting
  19. cue — a hint
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. key — in music
  22. snap — to snap out of it
  23. spell — a short time
  24. snap — to click

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