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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. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  12. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  19. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. face — part of the head
  3. mug — a cup
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. mug — to rob
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. face — to point toward
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. scale — size or range
  12. cap — a lid
  13. cap — a hat
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. mug — a face
  16. drill — army training
  17. cap — of ice
  18. drill — the tool
  19. drill — a practice
  20. scale — in music
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. face — to confront
  24. coach — a trainer

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