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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.

Make a worksheet

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: mine · fine · hide · pit · arm · cabinet · cue · lie

  1. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  2. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — for digging
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. mine — belonging to me
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. pit — a hole
  10. cue — a signal
  11. lie — to recline
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. fine — high quality
  19. cue — for pool
  20. cue — a hint
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. fine — all right
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. pit — in a race

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