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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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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: face · net · fan · track · object · spring · hide · bowl

  1. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  20. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. The ball hit the back of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. object — an aim
  3. face — to point toward
  4. net — for catching
  5. track — to keep track
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. net — after costs
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. spring — a coil
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. object — to protest
  16. face — to confront
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. track — a song
  19. face — part of the head
  20. spring — of water
  21. track — a path
  22. spring — the season
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. net — in sport

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