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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 120 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: bound · land · rash · tear · calf · foot · pass · lie

  1. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  23. When are we going to ________________?
  24. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.

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

Answer key

  1. tear — to rip
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. rash — hasty
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. lie — to recline
  10. bound — obliged
  11. bound — certain
  12. rash — a series
  13. foot — a measure
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. land — ground
  16. bound — tied together
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. tear — from crying
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. pass — a permit
  22. land — a country
  23. land — to come down
  24. tear — from crying

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