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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. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. That was a fun ________________.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a kind of play
  2. pop — music
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. rock — a stone
  6. pop — to visit
  7. lie — to recline
  8. pop — soda
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. game — a match
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. game — wild animals
  13. fine — all right
  14. roll — a list
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. rock — music
  21. fine — high quality
  22. roll — a cake
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. fine — a penalty

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