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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. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  17. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  20. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a rubber band
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. band — a music group
  4. fine — all right
  5. lie — to recline
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. band — a ring
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. craft — a skill
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. bore — to tire
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. craft — a handicraft
  17. club — for dancing
  18. fine — high quality
  19. craft — boats
  20. club — a group
  21. bore — to drill
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. club — for golf
  24. fine — a penalty

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