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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 116 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 · stem · mine · club · key · ruler · track · fan

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  15. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  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. lie — an untruth
  2. track — a path
  3. track — a song
  4. key — the most important part
  5. stem — to come from
  6. key — for a lock
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. club — for golf
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. stem — of a plant
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. key — in music
  14. club — a group
  15. stem — a stem cell
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. mine — for digging
  19. club — for dancing
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. track — to keep track
  22. mine — belonging to me
  23. fan — a supporter
  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