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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.

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: ball · bat · temple · board · face · mouse · fall · fan

  1. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  5. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. fall — the season
  2. ball — a great time
  3. board — a committee
  4. bat — for baseball
  5. fall — to drop
  6. face — to point toward
  7. ball — a dance
  8. fall — to drop
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. bat — in an idiom
  17. board — to get on
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. bat — the animal
  21. face — part of the head
  22. face — to confront
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. fan — to cool the air

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