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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. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  2. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  17. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to confront
  2. march — the month
  3. current — electric
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. march — music
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. hand — part of the body
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. current — happening now
  10. current — of water
  11. face — to point toward
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. hand — help
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. face — part of the head
  16. hand — in cards
  17. march — the month
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. bear — the animal
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. bear — the animal

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