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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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  23. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. face — to confront
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. mug — a cup
  5. mug — a face
  6. shower — rain
  7. face — to point toward
  8. face — part of the head
  9. rock — a stone
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. mug — to rob
  12. mine — for digging
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. bound — tied together
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. rock — music
  17. bound — certain
  18. shower — a meteor shower
  19. foot — a measure
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. bound — obliged
  22. mine — an explosive
  23. shower — to wash
  24. foot — part of the body

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