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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: lie · cell · mug · key · net · ball · game · hide

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. He was locked up in a ________________.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  17. That was a fun ________________.
  18. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. mug — to rob
  3. key — in music
  4. lie — to recline
  5. cell — in a prison
  6. net — in sport
  7. cell — a phone
  8. key — for a lock
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. game — a kind of play
  11. mug — a cup
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. game — wild animals
  14. net — for catching
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. hide — animal skin
  17. game — a match
  18. cell — in biology
  19. mug — a face
  20. ball — a great time
  21. ball — a dance
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. net — after costs
  24. key — the most important part

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