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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: lie · capital · cue · stock · mug · suit · key · wound

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  6. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  9. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. capital — a big letter
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. stock — shares
  5. wound — an injury
  6. wound — past of 'wind'
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. capital — money
  9. capital — a city
  10. cue — a signal
  11. key — for a lock
  12. cue — a hint
  13. cue — for pool
  14. mug — to rob
  15. stock — goods
  16. mug — a cup
  17. lie — to recline
  18. wound — an injury
  19. mug — a face
  20. key — in music
  21. suit — to fit
  22. key — the most important part
  23. suit — in cards
  24. suit — clothes

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