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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. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  8. David sat on the ________________.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to point toward
  2. swing — music
  3. mug — a face
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. face — part of the head
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. swing — in golf
  8. swing — to play on
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. season — of the year
  11. mug — to rob
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. face — to confront
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. mug — a cup
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. season — in sport
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. trunk — of an elephant

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