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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. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. face — to point toward
  4. bound — certain
  5. face — part of the head
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. face — to confront
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. bound — tied together
  11. wax — to grow
  12. current — electric
  13. bulb — for light
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. current — happening now
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. chip — for betting
  19. bulb — for light
  20. current — of water
  21. bound — obliged
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. chip — to eat

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