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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. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  4. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. object — to protest
  4. firm — a company
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. rock — music
  7. face — part of the head
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. bound — tied together
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. rock — a stone
  13. object — an aim
  14. bound — obliged
  15. object — a thing
  16. firm — steady
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. face — to confront
  19. stock — goods
  20. bound — certain
  21. stock — shares
  22. face — to point toward
  23. wax — to grow
  24. temple — a place of worship

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