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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. That was a fun ________________.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. game — wild animals
  3. key — for a lock
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. track — a song
  6. lean — thin
  7. fall — to drop
  8. key — the most important part
  9. fall — the season
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. fall — to drop
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. lie — to recline
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. track — a path
  16. charge — electricity
  17. key — in music
  18. game — a match
  19. charge — a price
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. rush — hurry
  23. lean — to bend
  24. track — to keep track

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