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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 116 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 office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. He was locked up in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. rash — a series
  5. staff — employees
  6. track — a song
  7. staff — a stick
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. firm — a company
  10. wake — a trail
  11. track — a path
  12. firm — steady
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. firm — decided
  16. cell — in biology
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. track — to keep track
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. rash — hasty
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. cell — a phone
  23. lie — to recline
  24. cell — in a prison

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