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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 ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. face — to confront
  3. face — part of the head
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. mark — a grade
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. pitch — completely
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. net — in sport
  10. mark — a trace
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. pitch — a sales talk
  14. wax — to grow
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. face — to point toward
  19. net — for catching
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. net — after costs
  24. wax — for sculpting

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