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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. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. track — a path
  5. bat — in an idiom
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. spell — letters
  10. key — the most important part
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. bat — the animal
  13. lie — to recline
  14. key — for a lock
  15. spell — magic
  16. track — to keep track
  17. spell — a short time
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. board — a committee
  20. track — a song
  21. key — in music
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. board — to get on
  24. bat — for baseball

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