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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: nail · lie · mug · dip · saw · pit · bay · hand

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. My mare is ________________ in color.
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. Do you need a ________________ with that?

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. bay — a horse colour
  3. pit — in a race
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. lie — to recline
  6. hand — in cards
  7. saw — the tool
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. mug — a cup
  10. mug — to rob
  11. pit — a hole
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. mug — a face
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. dip — to sink
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. saw — the tool
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. hand — help

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