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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. How do you ________________ your surname?
  3. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. spell — letters
  3. band — a rubber band
  4. bear — the animal
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. track — a path
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. spell — a short time
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. spell — magic
  14. band — a music group
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. lie — to recline
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. band — a ring
  20. rush — hurry
  21. track — to keep track
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. bear — the animal
  24. track — a song

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