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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. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. saw — the tool
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. branch — a division
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. bass — the fish
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. bass — low music
  12. mug — to rob
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. face — to point toward
  16. face — to confront
  17. racket — a loud noise
  18. mug — a cup
  19. lie — to recline
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. saw — the tool
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. mug — a face
  24. lie — an untruth

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