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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. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  16. That was a fun ________________.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. can — a tin
  4. foot — a measure
  5. face — to point toward
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. can — a tin
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. can — to be able to
  10. face — part of the head
  11. face — to confront
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. scale — in music
  14. stand — to bear
  15. game — a kind of play
  16. game — a match
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. game — wild animals
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. scale — size or range
  24. stand — on your feet

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