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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. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  10. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. chip — to eat
  6. lie — to recline
  7. march — music
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. march — the month
  10. march — the month
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. chip — for betting
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. roll — a cake
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. chip — in a computer
  24. arm — a part of something

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