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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. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. kick — a thrill
  5. dip — to sink
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. wax — to grow
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. perch — the fish
  13. track — to keep track
  14. kick — in football
  15. lie — to recline
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. kick — with a leg
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. track — a path

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