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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.

Make a worksheet

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: last · fall · face · fine · stick · hide · season · current

  1. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  6. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. False peace will not ________________.
  12. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — the season
  2. season — in sport
  3. current — of water
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. last — finally
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. season — of the year
  9. current — happening now
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. last — to go on
  12. last — final
  13. fine — high quality
  14. face — to point toward
  15. fine — all right
  16. face — part of the head
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. fall — to drop
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. fall — to drop
  22. current — electric
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. face — to confront

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