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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: face · racket · patient · can · ball · hide · mine · root

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. face — to point toward
  3. root — of a plant
  4. root — the cause
  5. racket — a loud noise
  6. can — to be able to
  7. patient — calm and waiting
  8. face — to confront
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. can — a tin
  11. can — a tin
  12. face — part of the head
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. ball — a great time
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. ball — a dance
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. mine — for digging
  22. root — of a word
  23. mine — belonging to me
  24. hide — animal skin

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