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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: fine · sharp · wake · track · bore · can · lie · mark

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. bore — to tire
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. can — a tin
  6. can — a tin
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. track — a song
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. fine — high quality
  12. track — a path
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. fine — all right
  15. wake — a trail
  16. track — to keep track
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. can — to be able to
  19. lie — to recline
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. mark — a trace
  22. bore — to drill
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. sharp — clever

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