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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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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. That was a fun ________________.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  14. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. bear — the animal
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. key — the most important part
  5. key — in music
  6. game — a match
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. lie — to recline
  9. sharp — clever
  10. bear — the animal
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. ball — a great time
  13. content — videos and posts
  14. content — the amount
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. game — wild animals
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. content — happy
  21. ball — a dance
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. key — for a lock
  24. game — a kind of play

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