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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 keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. bound — certain
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. bound — obliged
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. rash — a series
  16. track — a path
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. bound — tied together
  21. track — a song
  22. rash — hasty
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. lie — to recline

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