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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. rash — a series
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. track — a path
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. key — in music
  9. mug — a cup
  10. track — a song
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. track — to keep track
  13. rash — hasty
  14. key — the most important part
  15. mug — a face
  16. key — for a lock
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. mug — to rob
  19. lie — to recline
  20. hand — in cards
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. hand — help
  24. rash — on the skin

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