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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: fine · date · nail · cabinet · mark · land · lie · suit

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. When are we going to ________________?
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  24. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. mark — a grade
  5. fine — high quality
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. land — ground
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. suit — to fit
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. fine — all right
  13. land — a country
  14. mark — a trace
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. land — to come down
  17. suit — in cards
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. suit — clothes
  21. lie — to recline
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. date — the fruit

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