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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: season · leaves · wake · rash · track · safe · lie · racket

  1. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. season — in sport
  5. rash — a series
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. rash — hasty
  9. track — to keep track
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. wake — before a funeral
  17. track — a path
  18. season — of the year
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. lie — to recline
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. wake — a trail
  24. leaves — lets stay

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