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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. Have you settled on a ________________?
  2. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. face — part of the head
  3. face — to point toward
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. branch — a division
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. date — the fruit
  11. mug — a cup
  12. mug — to rob
  13. toast — bread
  14. face — to confront
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. can — a tin
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. can — to be able to
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. can — a tin
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. mug — a face

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