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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: chip · jam · lie · wax · bore · cap · deal · mark

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. mark — a grade
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. bore — to drill
  5. cap — a hat
  6. bore — to tire
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. chip — to eat
  10. cap — a lid
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. chip — for betting
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. cap — of ice
  19. mark — a trace
  20. deal — to handle
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. wax — to grow
  23. chip — in a computer
  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