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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. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to confront
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. mug — a face
  4. board — to get on
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. dip — to sink
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. cue — a hint
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. cue — for pool
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. face — part of the head
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. cue — a signal
  18. board — a committee
  19. mug — a cup
  20. face — to point toward
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. mug — to rob
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. arm — part of the body

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