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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. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  20. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. She had a strange look on her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to point toward
  2. key — for a lock
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. mug — a cup
  7. bear — the animal
  8. pitch — a sports field
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. key — in music
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. scale — in music
  14. key — the most important part
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. lie — to recline
  17. bear — the animal
  18. face — to confront
  19. scale — size or range
  20. pitch — completely
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. mug — to rob
  23. mug — a face
  24. face — part of the head

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