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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. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  17. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. can — a tin
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. bulb — for light
  5. bound — certain
  6. bulb — for light
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. shower — to wash
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. can — a tin
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. bound — obliged
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. shower — rain
  17. shower — a meteor shower
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. can — to be able to
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. trunk — of a tree
  22. bound — tied together
  23. lie — to recline
  24. safe — out of danger

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