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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 120 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
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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: lie · prune · charge · track · drill · scale · foot · safe

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. track — to keep track
  4. scale — size or range
  5. charge — in control
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. prune — to trim
  9. charge — electricity
  10. drill — a practice
  11. scale — in music
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. charge — a price
  14. drill — army training
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. prune — to trim
  18. foot — a measure
  19. track — a path
  20. lie — to recline
  21. drill — the tool
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. track — a song

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