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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: drill · pit · tube · suit · charge · dip · lie · leaves

  1. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. drill — the tool
  3. dip — to sink
  4. drill — army training
  5. tube — a container
  6. dip — a sauce
  7. suit — in cards
  8. suit — clothes
  9. tube — the underground
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. charge — electricity
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. charge — in control
  14. lie — to recline
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. charge — a price
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. drill — a practice
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. pit — a hole
  23. pit — in a race
  24. dip — to dunk

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