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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.

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: bound · lash · rock · lie · calf · safe · prune · capital

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. rock — music
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. lie — to recline
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. prune — to trim
  9. rock — a stone
  10. capital — a big letter
  11. bound — certain
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. bound — obliged
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. capital — money
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. capital — a city
  21. bound — tied together
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. prune — to trim
  24. calf — of the leg

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