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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. Have you settled on a ________________?
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. mark — a grade
  3. pitch — completely
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. key — for a lock
  6. file — a line of people
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. date — the fruit
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. file — a document
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. file — a tool
  14. pit — in a race
  15. pit — a hole
  16. mark — a trace
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. lie — to recline
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. key — the most important part
  23. key — in music
  24. pitch — a sales talk

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