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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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  9. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. face — to confront
  3. current — happening now
  4. key — the most important part
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. board — a committee
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. field — a subject
  9. field — for sport
  10. saw — the tool
  11. saw — the tool
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. field — farmland
  14. current — of water
  15. ball — a great time
  16. face — part of the head
  17. current — electric
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. ball — a dance
  20. board — to get on
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. face — to point toward
  23. key — for a lock
  24. bay — a part 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