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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 trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. key — in music
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. key — for a lock
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. bark — of a tree
  9. scale — in music
  10. bark — to shout
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. key — the most important part
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. bank — for money
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. lie — to recline
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. bank — of a river
  19. bark — a dog's sound
  20. track — to keep track
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. scale — size or range
  23. track — a path
  24. bank — for money

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