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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. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  22. There's no middle ________________.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. Do you need a ________________ with that?

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. face — to confront
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. mug — to rob
  5. ground — the earth
  6. bank — for money
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. bulb — for light
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. face — to point toward
  12. mug — a face
  13. bulb — for light
  14. hand — in cards
  15. bank — of a river
  16. mug — a cup
  17. ground — crushed
  18. bank — for money
  19. face — part of the head
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. hand — part of the body
  22. ground — a position
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. hand — help

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