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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. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  2. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to confront
  2. face — to point toward
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. bulb — for light
  9. face — part of the head
  10. spring — of water
  11. rest — a break
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. spring — a coil
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. bulb — for light
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. rest — what's left
  19. spring — the season
  20. rock — music
  21. pass — a permit
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. rock — a stone
  24. rest — what's left

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