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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 newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  17. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. face — part of the head
  5. can — a tin
  6. bear — the animal
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. face — to point toward
  9. foot — a measure
  10. bear — the animal
  11. file — a document
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. track — a song
  15. can — to be able to
  16. file — a tool
  17. file — a line of people
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. can — a tin
  21. track — to keep track
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. track — a path
  24. face — to confront

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