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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: mate · lie · ruler · board · roll · cabinet · content · pass

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. lie — to recline
  3. content — happy
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. mate — to breed
  8. board — a committee
  9. content — the amount
  10. pass — a permit
  11. content — videos and posts
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. mate — a friend
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. mate — a partner
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. roll — a list
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. roll — a cake
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. board — to get on
  23. roll — on a roll
  24. pass — to succeed

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