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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
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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: bank · cabinet · fan · squash · face · wave · current · deal

  1. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. deal — to handle
  3. current — happening now
  4. squash — the sport
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. face — to confront
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. bank — for money
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. current — of water
  14. current — electric
  15. bank — of a river
  16. squash — to crush
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. face — to point toward
  21. squash — the vegetable
  22. bank — for money
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. wave — with your hand

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