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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. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. root — of a plant
  3. ball — a great time
  4. key — for a lock
  5. charge — electricity
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. rock — music
  8. can — to be able to
  9. ball — a dance
  10. lie — to recline
  11. rock — a stone
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. key — in music
  14. root — the cause
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. can — a tin
  17. charge — a price
  18. charge — in control
  19. root — of a word
  20. key — the most important part
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. mine — for digging
  23. can — a tin
  24. mine — belonging to me

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