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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. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to point toward
  2. rash — a series
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. spell — a short time
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. rash — hasty
  8. spell — magic
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. spell — letters
  11. key — in music
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. rush — hurry
  14. face — to confront
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. key — for a lock
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. key — the most important part
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. lie — to recline
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. face — part of the head
  24. lie — an untruth

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