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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 120 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: craft · leaves · stock · safe · present · bay · mark · lie

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  24. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. mark — a grade
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. craft — a skill
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. stock — goods
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. craft — boats
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. mark — a trace
  17. stock — shares
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. craft — a handicraft
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. present — the time now
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. present — there
  24. present — a gift

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