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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. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. perch — the fish
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. season — of the year
  5. lie — to recline
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. season — in sport
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. ground — the earth
  12. wax — to grow
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. tube — the underground
  17. ground — a position
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. tube — a container
  23. rush — hurry
  24. ground — crushed

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