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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 116 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: sharp · spell · pitch · file · face · mug · bay · wave

  1. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  14. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. file — a line of people
  3. mug — to rob
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. mug — a cup
  6. spell — magic
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. face — to point toward
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. wave — a sudden rise
  11. mug — a face
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. pitch — a sales talk
  14. wave — with your hand
  15. spell — a short time
  16. file — a document
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. face — part of the head
  19. pitch — completely
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. spell — letters
  22. file — a tool
  23. face — to confront
  24. wave — of the sea

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