In the present study, informed by insights from cognitive and interactional linguistics, we set out to explore how facial expressions systematically occur as responses in interactional sequences. More specifically, we use FACS-analyses (Facial Action Coding System) to study which Action Units (AU) on the part of the listener co-occur with multimodal stance-taking acts by speakers. Based on a data set of 24 dyadic interactions, we show that different types of stance acts (e.g. marking obviousness vs. using expressive amplifiers) reveal different patterns of facial responses. In addition, also within one type of stance act, there is systematic variation in facial responses. For example, listeners displayed significantly different AU-patterns in reactions to verbal obviousness markers, compared to non-verbal obviousness markers. Together, these observations highlight that, analogous to verbal responses in interactional sequences, also facial motor responses appear to be systematic, and highly dependent on conversational context. As such, the AU's under scrutiny serve as intersubjectively aligned response turns completing a situationally designed stance-taking act. With this interdisciplinary study, combining linguistics with psychology and physiology, we aim for a better understanding of the multimodal complexity that constitutes the process of meaning making in spontaneous conversation.