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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. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  24. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to confront
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. fine — high quality
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. shower — to wash
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. fine — all right
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. shower — rain
  18. bass — low music
  19. face — part of the head
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. bass — the fish
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. face — to point toward
  24. shower — a meteor shower

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