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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. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  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. pitcher — a jug
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. suit — to fit
  4. suit — in cards
  5. pass — a permit
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. board — to get on
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. suit — clothes
  13. face — part of the head
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. board — a committee
  17. plane — a tool
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. face — to point toward
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. foot — a measure
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. pass — to succeed
  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