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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 · vault · current · stick · safe · cue · date · spell

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  7. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. Have you settled on a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. spell — a short time
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. stick — to attach or keep to
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. vault — an arched ceiling
  10. spell — letters
  11. lie — to recline
  12. date — the fruit
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. current — of water
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. cue — a hint
  18. vault — a safe
  19. current — happening now
  20. spell — magic
  21. cue — for pool
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. current — electric
  24. date — on the calendar

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