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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.

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: can · stand · squash · face · bass · bear · nail · toast

  1. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. face — to point toward
  4. squash — the sport
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. can — a tin
  7. can — to be able to
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. can — a tin
  12. bear — the animal
  13. squash — the vegetable
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. bear — the animal
  16. stand — to bear
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. bass — the fish
  20. bass — low music
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. toast — bread
  23. face — to confront
  24. squash — to crush

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