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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. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  21. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  22. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. The ball is in your ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. firm — steady
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. shower — to wash
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. saw — the tool
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. court — of law
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. firm — a company
  14. charge — in control
  15. shower — a meteor shower
  16. charge — a price
  17. lie — to recline
  18. charge — electricity
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. shower — rain
  21. firm — decided
  22. court — of a king
  23. saw — the tool
  24. court — for sport

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