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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 116 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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. mug — a face
  3. bear — the animal
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. face — to confront
  6. mug — to rob
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. deal — to handle
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. bear — the animal
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. bank — for money
  19. face — part of the head
  20. bank — of a river
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. face — to point toward
  23. mug — a cup
  24. bank — for money

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