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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.

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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: stand · bay · can · deal · wax · wound · mouse · face

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. face — to confront
  3. face — part of the head
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. can — a tin
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. wound — past of 'wind'
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. deal — to handle
  13. can — a tin
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. wound — an injury
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. face — to point toward
  19. wax — to grow
  20. can — to be able to
  21. stand — to bear
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. wound — an injury

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