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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. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. face — to confront
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. pit — a hole
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. pit — a fruit stone
  7. sharp — clever
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. plane — a tool
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. craft — a skill
  13. face — part of the head
  14. face — to point toward
  15. pit — in a race
  16. toast — bread
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. craft — a handicraft
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. craft — boats
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. safe — out of danger

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