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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 hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. fork — in a road
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. roll — a list
  6. face — part of the head
  7. fork — a garden tool
  8. root — the cause
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. roll — a cake
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. root — of a word
  16. root — of a plant
  17. tube — the underground
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. fork — to eat with
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. face — to point toward
  23. tube — a container
  24. face — to confront

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