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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: lie · last · wave · can · track · race · deal · prune

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  11. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  12. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. False peace will not ________________.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. track — a path
  3. race — the arms race
  4. can — to be able to
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. can — a tin
  7. track — a song
  8. race — a contest
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. last — finally
  11. race — humankind
  12. last — final
  13. lie — to recline
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. track — to keep track
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. prune — to trim
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. last — to go on
  21. prune — to trim
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. can — a tin

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