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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.

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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. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  6. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — of the sea
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. face — to point toward
  4. face — part of the head
  5. bat — the animal
  6. racket — a loud noise
  7. season — of the year
  8. bass — the fish
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. bat — for baseball
  12. bass — low music
  13. season — in sport
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. face — to confront
  16. bulb — for light
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. bat — in an idiom
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. bulb — for light
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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