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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. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to confront
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. face — part of the head
  4. staff — a stick
  5. lie — to recline
  6. deal — to handle
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. season — of the year
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. current — electric
  11. current — happening now
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. staff — employees
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. face — to point toward
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. season — in sport
  22. current — of water
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. staff — employees

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