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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.

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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: tear · mark · firm · lie · trunk · safe · lash · rush

  1. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. mark — a trace
  5. tear — from crying
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. mark — a grade
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. firm — steady
  14. tear — from crying
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. firm — a company
  18. trunk — of a tree
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. rush — hurry
  22. firm — decided
  23. tear — to rip
  24. lie — to recline

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