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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. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  11. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  12. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. foot — a measure
  3. bound — certain
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. bear — the animal
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. face — to point toward
  11. march — the month
  12. face — to confront
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. march — the month
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. march — music
  18. bear — the animal
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. bound — tied together
  21. bound — obliged
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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