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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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  12. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. ball — a dance
  3. bound — tied together
  4. mate — a partner
  5. face — part of the head
  6. face — to confront
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. suit — in cards
  10. bound — obliged
  11. wake — a trail
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. sharp — clever
  14. ball — a great time
  15. bound — certain
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. wake — to stop sleeping
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. face — to point toward
  20. mate — to breed
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. suit — to fit
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. mate — a friend

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