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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 120 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. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. saw — the tool
  3. face — part of the head
  4. track — to keep track
  5. fall — the season
  6. bound — certain
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. bound — obliged
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. suit — to fit
  11. sharp — clever
  12. saw — the tool
  13. track — a path
  14. bound — tied together
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. fall — to drop
  17. face — to point toward
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. track — a song
  20. suit — clothes
  21. fall — to drop
  22. face — to confront
  23. suit — in cards
  24. rash — hasty

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