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

Word bank: bear · snap · face · pit · arm · stand · ball · key

  1. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a hole
  2. key — the most important part
  3. face — to point toward
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. stand — to bear
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. snap — to click
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. ball — a dance
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. face — part of the head
  12. bear — the animal
  13. snap — to speak sharply
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. key — in music
  16. snap — to snap out of it
  17. pit — in a race
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. face — to confront
  21. ball — a great time
  22. bear — the animal
  23. key — for a lock
  24. stand — on your feet

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