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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. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. bound — tied together
  3. key — the most important part
  4. can — to be able to
  5. can — a tin
  6. perch — the fish
  7. bound — certain
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. track — a path
  10. key — in music
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. can — a tin
  15. track — a song
  16. track — to keep track
  17. bound — obliged
  18. lie — to recline
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. key — for a lock
  21. wax — to grow
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. nail — on a finger

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