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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 120 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. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. can — to be able to
  5. track — to keep track
  6. can — a tin
  7. face — to confront
  8. suit — in cards
  9. can — a tin
  10. current — happening now
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. face — to point toward
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. scale — size or range
  15. track — a song
  16. mark — a grade
  17. scale — in music
  18. current — of water
  19. track — a path
  20. face — part of the head
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. suit — to fit
  23. current — electric
  24. suit — clothes

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