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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 116 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. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  2. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a football final
  2. face — part of the head
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. face — to confront
  5. board — a committee
  6. key — the most important part
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. key — in music
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. saw — the tool
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. face — to point toward
  17. bass — low music
  18. pass — a permit
  19. board — to get on
  20. saw — the tool
  21. key — for a lock
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. bass — the fish

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