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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 120 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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. current — of water
  3. march — the month
  4. face — to point toward
  5. march — the month
  6. face — to confront
  7. mug — to rob
  8. current — happening now
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. pop — music
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. firm — steady
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. pop — soda
  16. current — electric
  17. firm — decided
  18. foot — a measure
  19. march — music
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. mug — a cup
  22. pop — to visit
  23. mug — a face
  24. firm — a company

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