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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. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. stock — shares
  3. pop — soda
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. stock — goods
  7. mark — a grade
  8. mark — a trace
  9. pop — to visit
  10. face — part of the head
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. lie — to recline
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. spell — a short time
  15. pop — music
  16. spell — magic
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. face — to point toward
  20. spell — letters
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. face — to confront

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