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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. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. face — to confront
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. ball — a dance
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. face — to point toward
  8. rock — a stone
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. face — part of the head
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. rock — music
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. chip — to eat
  17. bound — obliged
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. bound — certain
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. bound — tied together
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. ball — a great time
  24. chip — for betting

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