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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: current · toast · face · safe · cabinet · rash · foot · wave

  1. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  10. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to confront
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. face — to point toward
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. face — part of the head
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. current — electric
  8. toast — bread
  9. wave — with your hand
  10. wave — of the sea
  11. rash — hasty
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. current — happening now
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. foot — a measure
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. current — of water
  23. rash — a series
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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