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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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  16. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. bank — for money
  3. face — to point toward
  4. fine — high quality
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. face — part of the head
  7. bank — for money
  8. can — a tin
  9. bank — of a river
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. mine — for digging
  16. mine — belonging to me
  17. fine — all right
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. can — to be able to
  21. face — to confront
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. plane — a tool
  24. lash — to lash out

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