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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: lie · mark · rush · bear · lash · ball · track · rest

  1. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. rest — what's left
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. mark — a grade
  6. rest — a break
  7. track — a path
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. bear — the animal
  10. rest — what's left
  11. lie — to recline
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. ball — a great time
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. mark — a trace
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. ball — a dance
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. rush — hurry
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. track — to keep track
  23. track — a song
  24. bear — the animal

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