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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're on a ________________ here.
  2. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  21. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. She had a strange look on her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — on a roll
  2. face — to point toward
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. squash — the sport
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. toast — bread
  11. foot — a measure
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. roll — a cake
  15. squash — to crush
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. roll — a list
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. squash — the vegetable
  21. face — to confront
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. face — part of the head

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