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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. can — to be able to
  3. current — electric
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. current — happening now
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. straw — a straw man
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. season — of the year
  12. track — a song
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. straw — to clutch at straws
  15. lie — to recline
  16. track — a path
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. track — to keep track
  19. season — in sport
  20. current — of water
  21. can — a tin
  22. can — a tin
  23. straw — dry grass
  24. safe — a strongbox

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