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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. Don't do anything ________________.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — hasty
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. wound — an injury
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. current — electric
  10. rash — a series
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. wound — an injury
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. current — happening now
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. current — of water
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. ball — a great time
  22. lie — to recline
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. ball — a dance

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