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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 120 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: rest · safe · face · board · rock · leaves · hide · mark

  1. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. board — to get on
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. rock — a stone
  7. mark — a grade
  8. board — a committee
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. mark — a trace
  12. rest — a break
  13. rock — music
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. rest — what's left
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. rest — what's left
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. face — to confront
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. face — to point toward
  24. hide — animal skin

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