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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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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 · spell · firm · deal · safe · current · pop · face

  1. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  2. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — steady
  2. face — to point toward
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. firm — a company
  5. current — of water
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. spell — magic
  9. lie — to recline
  10. current — electric
  11. deal — to handle
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. spell — letters
  14. firm — decided
  15. pop — to visit
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. pop — music
  19. pop — soda
  20. face — to confront
  21. face — part of the head
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. current — happening now
  24. spell — a short time

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