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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. The ball is in your ________________.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. key — in music
  3. track — a song
  4. key — for a lock
  5. track — a path
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. key — the most important part
  8. lie — to recline
  9. date — the fruit
  10. suit — clothes
  11. deal — to handle
  12. court — of a king
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. suit — to fit
  15. sharp — clever
  16. suit — in cards
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. track — to keep track
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. court — for sport
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. court — of law
  24. sharp — exactly

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