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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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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 · cabinet · arm · deal · stock · perch · safe · fall

  1. My father caught me by the ________________.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  9. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. lie — to recline
  4. deal — to handle
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. fall — the season
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. fall — to drop
  9. perch — the fish
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. stock — goods
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. stock — shares
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. fall — to drop
  24. lie — an untruth

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