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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. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  24. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. bowl — a dish
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. can — a tin
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. cap — of ice
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. can — a tin
  14. cap — a lid
  15. cap — a hat
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. can — to be able to
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. face — to confront
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. face — to point toward

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