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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. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. mark — a trace
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. face — part of the head
  6. toast — bread
  7. face — to confront
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. face — to point toward
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. sharp — clever
  16. lean — thin
  17. lean — to rest against
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. rash — hasty
  20. mark — a grade
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. date — the fruit
  23. lean — to bend
  24. rash — a series

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