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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. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  3. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. snap — to snap out of it
  3. fall — to drop
  4. rock — a stone
  5. pound — a weight
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. pound — for dogs
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. fall — the season
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. snap — to click
  14. rock — music
  15. snap — to speak sharply
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. face — to confront
  19. pound — to hit hard
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. fall — to drop
  23. face — to point toward
  24. rush — hurry

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