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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: mark · prune · lie · land · craft · safe · key · content

  1. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  4. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. When are we going to ________________?
  8. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  13. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  14. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a skill
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. prune — to trim
  4. content — the amount
  5. key — the most important part
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. land — to come down
  8. prune — the fruit
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. content — videos and posts
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. craft — boats
  13. prune — to trim
  14. craft — a handicraft
  15. key — for a lock
  16. land — ground
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. key — in music
  20. mark — a grade
  21. land — a country
  22. lie — to recline
  23. content — happy
  24. mark — a trace

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