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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: lie · squash · sharp · root · saw · rash · plane · bore

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  8. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. saw — the tool
  7. squash — the vegetable
  8. root — of a word
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. bore — to drill
  11. root — the cause
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. root — of a plant
  14. squash — to crush
  15. sharp — clever
  16. plane — a tool
  17. bore — to tire
  18. rash — hasty
  19. lie — to recline
  20. rash — a series
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. squash — the sport
  23. saw — the tool
  24. plane — an aircraft

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