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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: bark · rest · shower · lie · plane · lash · safe · wound

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  5. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  18. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  19. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  20. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  21. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. bark — to shout
  3. rest — what's left
  4. wound — an injury
  5. shower — to wash
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. bark — of a tree
  8. rest — what's left
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. wound — an injury
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. lie — to recline
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. plane — a tool
  17. wound — past of 'wind'
  18. shower — rain
  19. shower — a meteor shower
  20. bark — a dog's sound
  21. rest — a break
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. lash — an eyelash

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