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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 120 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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. pass — a permit
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. lie — to recline
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. ball — a dance
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. rush — hurry
  24. ball — a great time

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