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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. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  10. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  13. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  18. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to point toward
  2. cap — a lid
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. board — to get on
  6. face — to confront
  7. ball — a dance
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. cap — a hat
  10. fork — to eat with
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. fork — a garden tool
  13. fork — in a road
  14. board — a committee
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. face — part of the head
  18. cap — of ice
  19. ball — a great time
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. lie — to recline
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. mouse — the animal

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