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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're almost out of ________________.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  22. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — soda
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. track — a path
  4. wave — with your hand
  5. can — a tin
  6. face — to point toward
  7. track — to keep track
  8. can — a tin
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. hand — in cards
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. pop — music
  13. wave — a sudden rise
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. hand — part of the body
  16. track — a song
  17. pop — to visit
  18. can — to be able to
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. hand — help
  22. face — part of the head
  23. face — to confront
  24. lie — to recline

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