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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. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. bound — obliged
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. bound — certain
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. mate — a partner
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. roll — a cake
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. mate — a friend
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. hide — animal skin
  17. roll — a list
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. mate — to breed
  22. lie — to recline
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. bound — tied together

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