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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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. There's no middle ________________.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. object — an aim
  3. hand — in cards
  4. ground — the earth
  5. suit — to fit
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. hand — part of the body
  8. object — to protest
  9. bank — of a river
  10. face — part of the head
  11. object — a thing
  12. face — to confront
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. bank — for money
  17. hand — help
  18. sharp — clever
  19. ground — crushed
  20. ground — a position
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. bank — for money
  23. suit — clothes
  24. face — to point toward

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