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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: face · fine · bulb · safe · row · board · content · cabinet

  1. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to confront
  2. row — to paddle
  3. content — videos and posts
  4. bulb — for light
  5. row — a line
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. face — part of the head
  9. content — the amount
  10. fine — high quality
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. fine — all right
  13. row — a quarrel
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. bulb — for light
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. board — a committee
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. board — to get on
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. face — to point toward
  24. content — happy

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