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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: face · firm · rest · fall · safe · charge · plane · mate

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  8. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. face — to confront
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. face — to point toward
  6. mate — to breed
  7. fall — to drop
  8. fall — the season
  9. plane — a tool
  10. face — part of the head
  11. charge — in control
  12. mate — a friend
  13. charge — electricity
  14. rest — a break
  15. mate — a partner
  16. fall — to drop
  17. firm — steady
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. charge — a price
  20. rest — what's left
  21. firm — decided
  22. rest — what's left
  23. firm — a company
  24. safe — out of danger

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