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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.

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: ruler · stick · tube · ball · sharp · lie · leaves · suit

  1. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. ball — a great time
  6. lie — to recline
  7. suit — to fit
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. suit — clothes
  11. ball — a dance
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. tube — a container
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. tube — the underground
  22. suit — in cards
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. sharp — clever

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