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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: track · face · mate · pass · foot · suit · sharp · saw

  1. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. Have you found your soul ________________?
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. saw — the tool
  3. mate — a partner
  4. sharp — clever
  5. mate — to breed
  6. suit — clothes
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. face — part of the head
  11. track — to keep track
  12. face — to confront
  13. track — a song
  14. suit — to fit
  15. suit — in cards
  16. track — a path
  17. mate — a friend
  18. pass — a permit
  19. saw — the tool
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. face — to point toward
  24. foot — 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