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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: jam · bulb · wave · face · pass · lean · saw · date

  1. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. Have you settled on a ________________?
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. face — to confront
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. face — part of the head
  7. face — to point toward
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. pass — a permit
  11. lean — to bend
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. wave — a sudden rise
  15. lean — thin
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. wave — with your hand
  19. saw — the tool
  20. bulb — for light
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. date — the fruit
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. bulb — for light

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