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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. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  21. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. fine — all right
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. current — happening now
  8. fine — high quality
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. cue — for pool
  12. lie — to recline
  13. snap — to speak sharply
  14. current — electric
  15. current — of water
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. saw — the tool
  18. saw — the tool
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. snap — to snap out of it
  21. bay — to keep at bay
  22. cue — a signal
  23. snap — to click
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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