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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. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. face — to confront
  2. tube — a container
  3. suit — clothes
  4. face — to point toward
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. bank — for money
  8. suit — in cards
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. bank — for money
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. bear — the animal
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. bear — the animal
  16. suit — to fit
  17. tube — the underground
  18. foot — a measure
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. bank — of a river
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. face — part of the head
  24. fan — a supporter

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