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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 ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. squash — to crush
  3. face — part of the head
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. squash — the vegetable
  8. rest — a break
  9. squash — the sport
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. rest — what's left
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. rock — music
  15. rest — what's left
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. face — to point toward
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. lie — to recline
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. rock — a stone
  22. wax — to grow
  23. face — to confront
  24. nail — for a hammer

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