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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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  16. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. key — for a lock
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. lie — to recline
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. bound — tied together
  7. ball — a great time
  8. ball — a dance
  9. board — a committee
  10. stand — to bear
  11. content — the amount
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. bound — certain
  15. content — videos and posts
  16. content — happy
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. dip — to sink
  20. board — to get on
  21. key — the most important part
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. bound — obliged
  24. stand — for spectators

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