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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. When are we going to ________________?
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. land — to come down
  2. ball — a great time
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. ball — a dance
  5. cue — a hint
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. cue — a signal
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. land — a country
  11. current — happening now
  12. cue — for pool
  13. current — electric
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. mark — a grade
  18. lie — to recline
  19. land — ground
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. mark — a trace
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. current — of water

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