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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: dip · land · fan · lie · wake · fine · suit · bore

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. When are we going to ________________?
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  15. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. suit — clothes
  5. land — to come down
  6. bore — to tire
  7. bore — to drill
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. fine — high quality
  10. lie — to recline
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. land — ground
  15. land — a country
  16. suit — in cards
  17. dip — to sink
  18. wake — to stop sleeping
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. fine — all right
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. suit — to fit
  23. wake — a trail
  24. wake — before a funeral

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