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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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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: mug · pass · mark · lean · hide · lie · fan · bound

  1. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. bound — tied together
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. bound — obliged
  10. lean — to bend
  11. mug — a face
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. mark — a grade
  14. mark — a trace
  15. mug — a cup
  16. mug — to rob
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. lean — thin
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. lie — to recline
  22. bound — certain
  23. pass — a permit
  24. lie — an untruth

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