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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: swing · leaves · mark · arm · bulb · cabinet · mug · face

  1. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. David sat on the ________________.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to confront
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. face — part of the head
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. swing — in golf
  6. mug — to rob
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. swing — to play on
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. swing — music
  13. mug — a cup
  14. bulb — for light
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. bulb — for light
  17. mark — a grade
  18. face — to point toward
  19. mark — a trace
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. mug — a face
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. arm — part of the body

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