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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
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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 · object · rock · track · wind · mark · chip · nail

  1. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  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. rock — to move gently
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. chip — for betting
  4. object — an aim
  5. wind — moving air
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. mark — a trace
  10. wind — moving air
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. track — a song
  14. track — a path
  15. mark — a grade
  16. object — to protest
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. track — to keep track
  19. wind — to turn a key
  20. rock — a stone
  21. chip — to eat
  22. rock — music
  23. object — a thing
  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