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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. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. That was a fun ________________.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  22. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. lie — to recline
  6. face — part of the head
  7. season — of the year
  8. ball — a great time
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. face — to confront
  11. spell — magic
  12. game — a match
  13. suit — in cards
  14. season — in sport
  15. spell — letters
  16. ball — a dance
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. plane — a tool
  19. face — to point toward
  20. suit — to fit
  21. game — wild animals
  22. game — a kind of play
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. suit — clothes

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