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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. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. face — to point toward
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. face — to confront
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. plane — a tool
  11. branch — a division
  12. lie — to recline
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. patient — calm and waiting
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. face — part of the head
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. fan — to cool the air

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