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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: temple · rash · lie · lean · tube · safe · leaves · object

  1. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?

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

Answer key

  1. lean — thin
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. tube — the underground
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. lie — to recline
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. lean — to bend
  13. rash — hasty
  14. tube — a container
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. object — a thing
  17. object — an aim
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. rash — a series
  24. object — to protest

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