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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 muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. track — a path
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. stock — goods
  6. track — to keep track
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. key — for a lock
  12. stock — shares
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. key — the most important part
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. track — a song
  19. key — in music
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. mouse — for a computer

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