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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 120 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. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  23. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. march — music
  3. key — for a lock
  4. mark — a grade
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. march — the month
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. key — the most important part
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. fork — in a road
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. march — the month
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. fork — a garden tool
  19. key — in music
  20. stem — of a plant
  21. lie — to recline
  22. fork — to eat with
  23. stem — to come from
  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