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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: arm · rush · lie · club · fan · suit · saw · cap

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  18. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  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. lie — to recline
  2. cap — a hat
  3. saw — the tool
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. cap — of ice
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. suit — in cards
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. suit — clothes
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. club — for dancing
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. rush — hurry
  15. saw — the tool
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. cap — a lid
  18. club — a group
  19. suit — to fit
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. club — for golf
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. fan — a supporter
  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