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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. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. That was a fun ________________.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. face — to confront
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. wake — a trail
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. mine — for digging
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. face — to point toward
  10. face — part of the head
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. game — a match
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. bank — for money
  17. game — wild animals
  18. suit — clothes
  19. bank — for money
  20. bank — of a river
  21. suit — to fit
  22. game — a kind of play
  23. suit — in cards
  24. arm — a part of something

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