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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. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. face — to point toward
  3. mug — a face
  4. face — to confront
  5. mug — a cup
  6. fine — high quality
  7. shower — to wash
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. ball — a great time
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. fine — all right
  12. ball — a dance
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. shower — rain
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. face — part of the head
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. shower — a meteor shower
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. mug — to rob
  24. ruler — for measuring

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