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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. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. root — of a word
  3. face — to confront
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. root — of a plant
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. wound — an injury
  9. bound — tied together
  10. bound — certain
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. root — the cause
  13. wound — past of 'wind'
  14. firm — steady
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. wound — an injury
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. firm — decided
  19. bound — obliged
  20. face — to point toward
  21. firm — a company
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. ruler — a monarch

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