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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. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  2. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  24. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to confront
  2. craft — a skill
  3. current — happening now
  4. foot — a measure
  5. plane — a tool
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. face — to point toward
  8. can — a tin
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. spell — magic
  12. face — part of the head
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. craft — boats
  16. can — to be able to
  17. current — of water
  18. current — electric
  19. can — a tin
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. spell — letters
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. spell — a short time

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