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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to point toward
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. ball — a dance
  5. wake — before a funeral
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. face — part of the head
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. wake — a trail
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. deal — to handle
  15. bulb — for light
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. bulb — for light
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. ball — a great time
  21. lie — to recline
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. face — to confront

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