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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. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. When are we going to ________________?
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. key — in music
  3. stock — shares
  4. land — to come down
  5. bound — tied together
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. key — the most important part
  10. land — a country
  11. key — for a lock
  12. land — ground
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. mark — a grade
  15. stock — goods
  16. stand — to bear
  17. mark — a trace
  18. lie — to recline
  19. bound — certain
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. bound — obliged
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. lie — an untruth

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