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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 information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  12. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  22. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. wind — moving air
  8. dip — to sink
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. lie — to recline
  11. stem — to come from
  12. file — a tool
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. stem — a stem cell
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. file — a line of people
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. stem — of a plant
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. wind — to turn a key
  22. wind — moving air
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. foot — a measure

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