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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: safe · chip · lean · lie · sharp · leaves · rock · staff

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. sharp — clever
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. staff — a stick
  11. lean — thin
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. staff — employees
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. rock — a stone
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. lean — to bend
  20. chip — to eat
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. chip — for betting
  23. rock — music
  24. staff — employees

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