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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 120 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 was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  15. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. mine — belonging to me
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. mine — for digging
  8. spell — magic
  9. bank — of a river
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. lie — to recline
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. band — a music group
  15. band — a ring
  16. plane — a tool
  17. spell — letters
  18. band — a rubber band
  19. bank — for money
  20. spell — a short time
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. bank — for money
  23. branch — a division
  24. branch — of a bank

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