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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.

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: leaves · bear · face · snap · wake · safe · net · can

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. face — to point toward
  3. face — part of the head
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. can — to be able to
  6. net — after costs
  7. can — a tin
  8. bear — the animal
  9. snap — to snap out of it
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. snap — to speak sharply
  13. net — for catching
  14. net — in sport
  15. face — to confront
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. snap — to click
  18. bear — the animal
  19. wake — a trail
  20. can — a tin
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. bear — to put up with

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