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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. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  2. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  6. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to point toward
  2. chest — of your body
  3. hand — in cards
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. face — to confront
  6. chest — a box
  7. fine — high quality
  8. suit — clothes
  9. suit — in cards
  10. hand — help
  11. hand — part of the body
  12. can — a tin
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. deal — to handle
  15. chest — of your body
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. face — part of the head
  19. can — a tin
  20. fine — all right
  21. suit — to fit
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. can — to be able to
  24. jam — a tight spot

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