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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 116 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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. False peace will not ________________.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  9. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  24. At ________________, we arrived at the village.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to point toward
  2. current — electric
  3. bulb — for light
  4. current — of water
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. last — to go on
  7. current — happening now
  8. last — final
  9. face — to confront
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. bulb — for light
  15. lie — to recline
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. mark — a grade
  22. mark — a trace
  23. face — part of the head
  24. last — finally

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