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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 116 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. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  6. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. pit — in a race
  3. spell — a short time
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. march — the month
  6. pit — a fruit stone
  7. bank — of a river
  8. stock — shares
  9. bank — for money
  10. spell — magic
  11. key — the most important part
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. spell — letters
  14. key — in music
  15. pit — a hole
  16. rush — hurry
  17. march — music
  18. key — for a lock
  19. lie — to recline
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. stock — goods
  23. bank — for money
  24. march — the month

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