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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. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. False peace will not ________________.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. fork — in a road
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. can — a tin
  5. fork — a garden tool
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. board — to get on
  8. face — to confront
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. bound — obliged
  11. bound — certain
  12. firm — a company
  13. last — to go on
  14. bound — tied together
  15. wax — to grow
  16. fork — to eat with
  17. firm — steady
  18. last — final
  19. can — to be able to
  20. face — to point toward
  21. board — a committee
  22. last — finally
  23. can — a tin
  24. firm — decided

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