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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. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  2. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  22. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to point toward
  2. bat — for baseball
  3. plane — a tool
  4. key — for a lock
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. bound — certain
  7. bound — tied together
  8. key — the most important part
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. face — to confront
  11. face — part of the head
  12. ball — a dance
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. key — in music
  18. bound — obliged
  19. ball — a great time
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. bat — in an idiom
  22. bat — the animal
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. foot — a measure

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