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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
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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: mark · foot · lie · row · board · safe · content · charge

  1. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  21. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. content — happy
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. board — to get on
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. row — to paddle
  7. mark — a trace
  8. charge — a price
  9. row — a quarrel
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. content — videos and posts
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. charge — in control
  16. mark — a grade
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. lie — to recline
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. row — a line
  21. content — the amount
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. board — a committee
  24. charge — electricity

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