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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. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. pass — a permit
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. stick — to attach or keep to
  8. can — a tin
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. deal — to handle
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. clip — a video
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. clip — to cut
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. can — to be able to
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. can — a tin
  22. clip — for paper
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. lie — to recline

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