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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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to confront
  2. current — of water
  3. staff — employees
  4. perch — the fish
  5. track — a path
  6. staff — employees
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. face — to point toward
  9. current — happening now
  10. track — to keep track
  11. mark — a grade
  12. face — part of the head
  13. track — a song
  14. squash — to crush
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. staff — a stick
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. squash — the sport
  20. mark — a trace
  21. current — electric
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. mark — to pay attention

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