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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 116 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. He is an ace ________________.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to point toward
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. mug — a cup
  4. bowl — to roll
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. mug — a face
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. mark — a grade
  10. can — a tin
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. face — part of the head
  14. spell — magic
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. can — to be able to
  17. spell — letters
  18. face — to confront
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. mark — a trace
  21. can — a tin
  22. mug — to rob
  23. spell — a short time
  24. mark — to pay attention

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