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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: tube · track · lie · rest · lash · key · toast · leaves

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. track — a path
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. key — in music
  5. lie — to recline
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. key — for a lock
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. rest — a break
  12. rest — what's left
  13. tube — the underground
  14. key — the most important part
  15. track — to keep track
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. toast — bread
  20. track — a song
  21. rest — what's left
  22. tube — a container
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. lash — to lash out

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