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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
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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: mouse · bulb · ball · wave · mate · bay · lie · face

  1. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  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. wave — of the sea
  2. mate — to breed
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. bulb — for light
  8. mate — a friend
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. bulb — for light
  12. ball — a dance
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. face — part of the head
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. lie — to recline
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. face — to point toward
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. ball — a great time
  22. mate — a partner
  23. wave — with your hand
  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