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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: foot · degree · current · face · safe · leaves · suit · band

  1. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. She had a strange look on her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. degree — an amount
  4. face — to confront
  5. band — a rubber band
  6. face — to point toward
  7. degree — from a university
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. current — of water
  10. current — happening now
  11. degree — temperature
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. current — electric
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. band — a music group
  18. suit — to fit
  19. suit — clothes
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. band — a ring
  23. suit — in cards
  24. face — part of the head

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