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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. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  22. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to confront
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. pop — soda
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. band — a ring
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. tube — a container
  11. ball — a great time
  12. bulb — for light
  13. face — to point toward
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. face — part of the head
  16. band — a music group
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. tube — the underground
  21. pop — music
  22. band — a rubber band
  23. ball — a dance
  24. pop — to visit

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