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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. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. track — a song
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. ball — a dance
  5. stock — shares
  6. face — to point toward
  7. mug — to rob
  8. face — part of the head
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. mark — a grade
  11. track — a path
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. mark — a trace
  14. stock — goods
  15. track — to keep track
  16. lie — to recline
  17. key — for a lock
  18. face — to confront
  19. mug — a cup
  20. key — in music
  21. ball — a great time
  22. key — the most important part
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. mug — a face

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