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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 124 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 transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to confront
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. mark — a grade
  5. lie — to recline
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. mark — a trace
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. rock — a stone
  18. face — part of the head
  19. patient — calm and waiting
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. rock — music
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. face — to point toward
  24. mark — to pay attention

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