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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. He is an ace ________________.
  2. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  22. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. face — to point toward
  3. march — the month
  4. face — part of the head
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. face — to confront
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. bulb — for light
  11. bulb — for light
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. mug — a face
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. fine — high quality
  17. mug — a cup
  18. mug — to rob
  19. fine — all right
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. march — music
  22. march — the month
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. arm — 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