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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. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  20. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  21. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. ball — a great time
  3. spell — magic
  4. rest — a break
  5. key — in music
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. firm — a company
  9. lie — to recline
  10. firm — decided
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. key — for a lock
  13. firm — steady
  14. foot — a measure
  15. club — for golf
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. key — the most important part
  18. spell — letters
  19. rest — what's left
  20. club — for dancing
  21. rest — what's left
  22. ball — a dance
  23. club — a group
  24. foot — part of the body

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