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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
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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: current · can · cap · bowl · fork · mine · foot · face

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  9. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  12. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  13. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  20. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. cap — of ice
  4. face — part of the head
  5. foot — a measure
  6. cap — a hat
  7. current — electric
  8. cap — a lid
  9. fork — to eat with
  10. current — of water
  11. mine — for digging
  12. fork — a garden tool
  13. mine — an explosive
  14. can — a tin
  15. current — happening now
  16. bowl — a football final
  17. can — a tin
  18. face — to confront
  19. mine — belonging to me
  20. bowl — to roll
  21. can — to be able to
  22. face — to point toward
  23. fork — in a road
  24. bowl — a dish

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