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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: lie · vault · safe · wake · pass · sharp · field · branch

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. field — for sport
  6. wake — a trail
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. vault — in gymnastics
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. lie — to recline
  11. sharp — clever
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. vault — an arched ceiling
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. branch — a division
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. vault — a safe
  20. field — farmland
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. field — a subject
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. wake — before a funeral

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