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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: foot · stand · charge · fan · firm · face · board · temple

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  11. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. board — a committee
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. charge — electricity
  7. face — to point toward
  8. stand — to bear
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. firm — a company
  11. firm — steady
  12. charge — in control
  13. face — to confront
  14. firm — decided
  15. foot — a measure
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. face — part of the head
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. charge — a price
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. board — to get on
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. foot — part of the body

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