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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: hide · lash · track · nail · mark · mine · lie · drill

  1. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  5. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  6. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. hide — animal skin
  5. mine — belonging to me
  6. mine — for digging
  7. drill — the tool
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. drill — a practice
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. track — a song
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. mine — an explosive
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. track — to keep track
  16. mark — a grade
  17. track — a path
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. drill — army training
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. mark — a trace
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. lie — to recline
  24. mark — to pay attention

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