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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 116 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: safe · stem · lie · ball · suit · cold · sharp · mark

  1. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. The water is too ________________.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  19. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — to pay attention
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. mark — a grade
  4. suit — to fit
  5. mark — a trace
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. suit — clothes
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. cold — not warm
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. ball — a great time
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. suit — in cards
  15. stem — to come from
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. sharp — clever
  18. stem — a stem cell
  19. cold — the Cold War
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. lie — to recline
  22. ball — a dance
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. cold — an illness

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