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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 · firm · game · arm · safe · capital · current · cue

  1. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  3. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. That was a fun ________________.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. capital — money
  3. capital — a city
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. cue — a signal
  8. game — wild animals
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. firm — decided
  11. current — happening now
  12. current — of water
  13. cue — for pool
  14. lie — to recline
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. current — electric
  17. game — a match
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. game — a kind of play
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. firm — steady
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. firm — a company
  24. capital — a big letter

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