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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: mug · drill · mate · dip · capital · leaves · toast · face

  1. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  2. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. capital — money
  2. face — to confront
  3. toast — bread
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. mug — a cup
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. drill — the tool
  8. mug — to rob
  9. face — part of the head
  10. dip — to sink
  11. drill — army training
  12. face — to point toward
  13. mug — a face
  14. capital — a city
  15. mate — a friend
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. drill — a practice
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. capital — a big letter
  21. mate — a partner
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. mate — to breed
  24. dip — to dunk

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