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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.

Make a worksheet

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. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  21. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  24. We ________________ up on opposing sides.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. wound — an injury
  5. charge — electricity
  6. charge — a price
  7. root — of a plant
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. season — in sport
  10. charge — in control
  11. face — to point toward
  12. season — of the year
  13. root — the cause
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. wound — an injury
  21. root — of a word
  22. face — to confront
  23. face — part of the head
  24. wound — past of 'wind'

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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