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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. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. deal — to handle
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. lie — to recline
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. bound — tied together
  9. rush — hurry
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. track — a song
  12. track — a path
  13. prune — to trim
  14. bound — certain
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. track — to keep track
  17. prune — to trim
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. bound — obliged
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. cabinet — ministers

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