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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: bay · dip · lie · wound · rush · rule · coach · mug

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. My mare is ________________ in color.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  16. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. bay — a horse colour
  3. lie — to recline
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. mug — to rob
  6. dip — to sink
  7. mug — a cup
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. wound — an injury
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. rush — hurry
  15. rule — to rule out
  16. rule — government
  17. mug — a face
  18. rule — a law
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. wound — an injury
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. rush — a thrill

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