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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: track · rest · ruler · rush · dip · lie · press · spell

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. rest — a break
  3. rest — what's left
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. press — to push
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. press — a publisher
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. track — a song
  12. press — newspapers
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. rest — what's left
  15. track — a path
  16. track — to keep track
  17. spell — letters
  18. spell — a short time
  19. dip — to sink
  20. rush — hurry
  21. lie — to recline
  22. spell — magic
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. dip — a sauce

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