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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. shower — a meteor shower
  3. plane — a tool
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. pop — to visit
  12. lie — to recline
  13. cap — a lid
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. season — in sport
  16. shower — rain
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. cap — of ice
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. shower — to wash
  21. pop — soda
  22. pop — music
  23. season — of the year
  24. cap — a hat

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