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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. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to confront
  2. net — in sport
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. bank — of a river
  6. deal — to handle
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. press — a publisher
  9. face — part of the head
  10. press — newspapers
  11. net — after costs
  12. press — to push
  13. bore — to drill
  14. key — in music
  15. net — for catching
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. bank — for money
  18. key — the most important part
  19. face — to point toward
  20. key — for a lock
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. bore — to tire
  24. bank — for money

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