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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 124 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: game · rule · vault · bound · mark · lie · face · rock

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  3. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. That was a fun ________________.
  6. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  7. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  10. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  21. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  22. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. rule — a law
  3. face — to confront
  4. bound — obliged
  5. game — a match
  6. vault — an arched ceiling
  7. rule — to rule out
  8. face — part of the head
  9. game — a kind of play
  10. vault — in gymnastics
  11. bound — tied together
  12. face — to point toward
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. mark — a grade
  15. mark — a trace
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. lie — to recline
  19. rock — a stone
  20. rule — government
  21. vault — a safe
  22. game — wild animals
  23. rock — music
  24. bound — certain

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