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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: saw · fan · lie · object · drill · face · bank · bay

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  13. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. bank — for money
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. face — part of the head
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. face — to confront
  7. bank — of a river
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. bank — for money
  11. saw — the tool
  12. drill — army training
  13. object — an aim
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. face — to point toward
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. saw — the tool
  18. lie — to recline
  19. object — a thing
  20. drill — a practice
  21. object — to protest
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. drill — the tool

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