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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: nail · mug · capital · lie · key · racket · face · perch

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. She had a strange look on her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. capital — money
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. perch — the fish
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. capital — a big letter
  8. mug — a face
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. face — to point toward
  12. key — the most important part
  13. mug — a cup
  14. mug — to rob
  15. capital — a city
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. key — in music
  19. key — for a lock
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. face — to confront
  24. face — part of the head

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