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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. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  23. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  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. face — to confront
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. clip — a video
  4. face — part of the head
  5. firm — a company
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. face — to point toward
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. firm — decided
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. key — in music
  14. clip — to cut
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. key — the most important part
  18. key — for a lock
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. plane — a tool
  22. firm — steady
  23. clip — for paper
  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