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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. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. bound — obliged
  4. hide — animal skin
  5. deal — to handle
  6. face — to point toward
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. bound — certain
  9. suit — to fit
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. suit — in cards
  12. suit — clothes
  13. face — to confront
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. bound — tied together

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