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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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. face — part of the head
  3. charge — a price
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. charge — in control
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. firm — decided
  9. season — of the year
  10. face — to confront
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. face — to point toward
  13. firm — steady
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. foot — a measure
  16. wave — of the sea
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. wound — an injury
  19. firm — a company
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. charge — electricity
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. wound — an injury

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