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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. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  8. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to point toward
  2. ball — a great time
  3. tube — a container
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. saw — the tool
  6. current — electric
  7. pitch — a sales talk
  8. pitch — a sports field
  9. current — happening now
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. mark — a grade
  12. saw — the tool
  13. bore — to tire
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. mark — a trace
  17. bore — to drill
  18. ball — a dance
  19. face — part of the head
  20. tube — the underground
  21. pitch — completely
  22. current — of water
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. face — to confront

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