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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 120 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. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. The ball is in your ________________.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. dip — to sink
  3. net — after costs
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. net — for catching
  6. face — to confront
  7. court — of a king
  8. stand — to bear
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. net — in sport
  13. pass — a permit
  14. court — of law
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. wax — to grow
  18. face — part of the head
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. court — for sport
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. face — to point toward
  24. safe — out of danger

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