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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. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  2. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. face — to point toward
  2. face — part of the head
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. suit — in cards
  5. face — to confront
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. suit — clothes
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. season — of the year
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. season — in sport
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. suit — to fit
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. stand — to bear
  20. lie — to recline
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. cabinet — ministers

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