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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.

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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: bay · saw · lie · nail · mate · rest · board · bulb

  1. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. rest — what's left
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. bulb — for light
  6. mate — to breed
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. mate — a friend
  9. rest — a break
  10. board — to get on
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. mate — a partner
  14. board — a committee
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. saw — the tool
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. rest — what's left
  21. bulb — for light
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. lie — to recline

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