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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 116 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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: lie · pass · row · saw · ball · bound

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. ball — a great time
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. row — to paddle
  5. pass — a permit
  6. lie — to recline
  7. row — a line
  8. saw — the tool
  9. bound — certain
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. bound — tied together
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. saw — the tool
  15. bound — obliged
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. ball — a dance

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