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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: staff · safe · wound · lie · rock · track · jam · toast

  1. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. track — to keep track
  3. wound — an injury
  4. track — a path
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. track — a song
  10. staff — a stick
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. wound — an injury
  13. staff — employees
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. rock — a stone
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. lie — to recline
  18. toast — bread
  19. wound — past of 'wind'
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. rock — music
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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