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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 116 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. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  2. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.

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

Answer key

  1. tear — from crying
  2. file — a line of people
  3. tear — to rip
  4. rash — hasty
  5. rash — a series
  6. cue — a signal
  7. tear — from crying
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. dip — to sink
  12. file — a tool
  13. chip — to eat
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. cue — for pool
  21. chip — for betting
  22. cue — a hint
  23. lie — to recline
  24. file — a document

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