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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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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: racket · lie · key · bear · ruler · stem · face · rush

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. key — for a lock
  10. bear — the animal
  11. face — to point toward
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. face — part of the head
  14. rush — hurry
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. face — to confront
  17. lie — to recline
  18. bear — the animal
  19. stem — to come from
  20. stem — of a plant
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. key — the most important part
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. bear — to put up with

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