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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 116 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: lie · wake · land · content · ruler · ball · safe · bark

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. When are we going to ________________?
  7. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  8. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  14. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  19. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. bark — to shout
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. land — to come down
  7. land — a country
  8. bark — of a tree
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. bark — a dog's sound
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. ball — a great time
  13. content — happy
  14. land — ground
  15. ball — a dance
  16. lie — to recline
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. content — the amount
  19. wake — before a funeral
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. content — videos and posts
  24. ruler — for measuring

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