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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. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  18. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to point toward
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. bear — the animal
  4. charge — in control
  5. bear — the animal
  6. face — to confront
  7. march — the month
  8. charge — a price
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. deal — to handle
  13. charge — electricity
  14. fine — high quality
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. face — part of the head
  18. march — the month
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. march — music
  21. fine — all right
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. plane — a tool
  24. deal — a big deal

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