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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. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. face — part of the head
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. firm — decided
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. board — to get on
  8. lean — thin
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. board — a committee
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. firm — a company
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. stick — to attach or keep to
  17. firm — steady
  18. track — to keep track
  19. track — a song
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. face — to point toward
  22. face — to confront
  23. track — a path
  24. lean — to bend

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