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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. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  9. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. root — of a plant
  4. sharp — clever
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. key — for a lock
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. object — a thing
  9. bark — of a tree
  10. bass — the fish
  11. bark — a dog's sound
  12. object — to protest
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. key — in music
  15. root — the cause
  16. lie — to recline
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. key — the most important part
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. bass — low music
  22. root — of a word
  23. object — an aim
  24. bark — to shout

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