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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.

Make a worksheet

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: pitcher · jam · lie · board · fall · toast · fine · face

  1. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  18. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — the most admired
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. fine — all right
  6. fall — the season
  7. toast — bread
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. face — part of the head
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. lie — to recline
  14. board — a committee
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. fall — to drop
  18. fall — to drop
  19. board — to get on
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. face — to confront
  22. face — to point toward
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. fine — high quality

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