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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 116 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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  4. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. rule — to rule out
  4. rule — a law
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. ball — a dance
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. ball — a great time
  9. bass — the fish
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. rule — government
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. lie — to recline
  16. track — a song
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. stand — to bear
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. track — to keep track
  21. bass — low music
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. track — a path

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