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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  9. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  14. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. The ________________ market has crashed.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. track — to keep track
  3. firm — steady
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. object — a thing
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. track — a song
  8. object — an aim
  9. present — the time now
  10. track — a path
  11. object — to protest
  12. stock — goods
  13. present — there
  14. firm — decided
  15. lie — to recline
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. deal — to handle
  18. present — a gift
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. firm — a company
  23. stock — shares
  24. foot — a measure

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