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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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  11. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  12. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. cue — a hint
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. cue — for pool
  6. fine — high quality
  7. stem — a stem cell
  8. rash — a series
  9. key — in music
  10. stem — of a plant
  11. stem — to come from
  12. face — to confront
  13. fine — all right
  14. ball — a great time
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. key — the most important part
  17. key — for a lock
  18. face — part of the head
  19. face — to point toward
  20. ball — a dance
  21. rash — hasty
  22. cue — a signal
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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