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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 hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  9. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  10. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. When are we going to ________________?
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. mark — a trace
  3. key — in music
  4. key — the most important part
  5. suit — to fit
  6. land — ground
  7. tube — the underground
  8. present — the time now
  9. land — a country
  10. object — a thing
  11. key — for a lock
  12. land — to come down
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. suit — in cards
  16. present — there
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. present — a gift
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. tube — a container
  21. object — an aim
  22. suit — clothes
  23. mark — a grade
  24. object — to protest

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