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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 120 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. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. key — the most important part
  3. pit — in a race
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. lean — thin
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. key — in music
  9. stock — shares
  10. stock — goods
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. key — for a lock
  14. plane — a tool
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. pit — a hole
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. ball — a dance
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. ball — a great time
  22. lean — to bend
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. ball — a round shape

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