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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: face · track · safe · cue · band · lie · spring · lash

  1. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a music group
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. band — a rubber band
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. track — to keep track
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. cue — a hint
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. face — part of the head
  12. cue — for pool
  13. lie — to recline
  14. spring — a coil
  15. spring — of water
  16. track — a song
  17. face — to confront
  18. face — to point toward
  19. track — a path
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. band — a ring
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. spring — the season
  24. cue — a signal

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