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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. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. face — to point toward
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. ball — a great time
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. cue — for pool
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. foot — a measure
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. cue — a hint
  15. stick — to attach or keep to
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. face — to confront
  20. ball — a dance
  21. vault — a safe
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. vault — in gymnastics
  24. cue — a signal

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