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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 124 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. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  11. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  12. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  13. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  16. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  17. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. present — a gift
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. present — there
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. shower — to wash
  11. fall — the season
  12. shower — rain
  13. present — the time now
  14. rock — music
  15. shower — a meteor shower
  16. face — to point toward
  17. fall — to drop
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. rock — a stone
  22. fall — to drop
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. face — to confront

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