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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. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  16. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. face — to confront
  2. face — to point toward
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. plane — a tool
  7. band — a music group
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. bank — of a river
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. band — a rubber band
  16. face — part of the head
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. bank — for money
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. bank — for money
  22. band — a ring
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. fan — a supporter

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