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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. We're on a ________________ here.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. face — to confront
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. face — part of the head
  7. bowl — a football final
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. rush — hurry
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. roll — on a roll
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. roll — a cake
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. mine — for digging
  18. roll — a list
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. lie — to recline
  22. face — to point toward
  23. rash — hasty
  24. rush — to hurry

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