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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.

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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: object · lie · cue · mark · degree · bulb · nail · face

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  22. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. degree — from a university
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. lie — to recline
  5. bulb — for light
  6. cue — for pool
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. face — part of the head
  9. degree — temperature
  10. mark — a grade
  11. cue — a hint
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. bulb — for light
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. object — an aim
  17. face — to confront
  18. mark — a trace
  19. degree — an amount
  20. object — a thing
  21. face — to point toward
  22. object — to protest
  23. cue — a signal
  24. mark — to pay attention

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