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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 · spell · key · stand · bat · fine · nail · safe

  1. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  2. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to confront
  2. face — to point toward
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. fine — all right
  5. face — part of the head
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. bat — in an idiom
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. bat — for baseball
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. spell — a short time
  12. bat — the animal
  13. key — in music
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. spell — letters
  16. spell — magic
  17. stand — to bear
  18. fine — high quality
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. key — for a lock
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. key — the most important part
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. stand — for spectators

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