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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 116 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. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  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. nail — for a hammer
  2. face — to confront
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. face — to point toward
  5. bulb — for light
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. face — part of the head
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. staff — employees
  10. lean — to rest against
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. sharp — clever
  19. lean — thin
  20. staff — a stick
  21. lean — to bend
  22. staff — employees
  23. bulb — for light
  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