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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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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. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. can — a tin
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. bank — of a river
  7. plane — a tool
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. can — a tin
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. face — to confront
  14. bank — for money
  15. face — part of the head
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. object — an aim
  18. face — to point toward
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. bank — for money
  22. can — to be able to
  23. object — to protest
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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