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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. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  2. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to point toward
  2. drill — army training
  3. current — electric
  4. face — part of the head
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bear — the animal
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. drill — the tool
  9. current — of water
  10. wake — before a funeral
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. wake — a trail
  13. press — a publisher
  14. current — happening now
  15. foot — a measure
  16. press — newspapers
  17. bulb — for light
  18. bear — the animal
  19. drill — a practice
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. face — to confront
  23. press — to push
  24. wake — to stop sleeping

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