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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. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  8. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. pitch — a sales talk
  4. staff — employees
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. staff — a stick
  7. shower — a meteor shower
  8. face — to point toward
  9. staff — employees
  10. pitch — a sports field
  11. bank — for money
  12. shower — rain
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. pitch — completely
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. face — to confront
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. shower — to wash
  21. bank — of a river
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. bank — for money
  24. rush — hurry

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