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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. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. sharp — clever
  5. face — part of the head
  6. track — a song
  7. face — to point toward
  8. track — a path
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. bear — the animal
  11. face — to confront
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. saw — the tool
  14. craft — boats
  15. saw — the tool
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. craft — a skill
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. bear — the animal
  22. craft — a handicraft
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. sharp — with an edge

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