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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  21. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  22. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. face — to confront
  3. ball — a dance
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. fine — high quality
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. fork — a garden tool
  8. ball — a great time
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. rash — hasty
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. mark — a trace
  13. fork — in a road
  14. face — to point toward
  15. rash — a series
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. rock — music
  18. mark — a grade
  19. fine — all right
  20. wave — a sudden rise
  21. fork — to eat with
  22. face — part of the head
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. wave — of the sea

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