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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. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. The ball is in your ________________.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  13. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  14. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a quarrel
  2. track — to keep track
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. track — a song
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. lie — to recline
  9. court — for sport
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. track — a path
  12. row — a line
  13. court — of law
  14. row — to paddle
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. court — of a king
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. season — of the year
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. toast — bread
  24. season — in sport

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