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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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. face — to point toward
  3. straw — a straw man
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. face — part of the head
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. face — to confront
  9. fine — high quality
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. cap — of ice
  13. straw — to clutch at straws
  14. cap — a lid
  15. stand — to bear
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. pit — a hole
  20. fine — all right
  21. straw — dry grass
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. cap — a hat

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