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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. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  16. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. That was a fun ________________.
  23. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. scale — in music
  3. staff — employees
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. key — in music
  7. track — a song
  8. patient — calm and waiting
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. staff — employees
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. scale — size or range
  14. staff — a stick
  15. game — wild animals
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. track — a path
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. key — the most important part
  20. lie — to recline
  21. track — to keep track
  22. game — a match
  23. game — a kind of play
  24. key — for a lock

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