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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. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. foot — a measure
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. snap — to speak sharply
  8. suit — in cards
  9. face — to confront
  10. key — the most important part
  11. snap — to click
  12. key — for a lock
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. suit — clothes
  15. stick — to attach or keep to
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. snap — to snap out of it
  19. rush — hurry
  20. face — to point toward
  21. suit — to fit
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. key — in music

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