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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. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. The ________________ market has crashed.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. club — for dancing
  3. lie — to recline
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. club — for golf
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. current — electric
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. stock — goods
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. key — in music
  15. club — a group
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. key — for a lock
  20. current — of water
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. current — happening now
  23. stock — shares
  24. key — the most important part

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