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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. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to point toward
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. face — part of the head
  4. bank — for money
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. bank — for money
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. current — of water
  11. pop — soda
  12. current — electric
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. pop — to visit
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. dip — to sink
  17. bank — of a river
  18. pop — music
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. current — happening now
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. face — to confront
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. pitch — completely

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