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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: swing · fan · suit · ball · mate · fine · face · bay

  1. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. David sat on the ________________.
  4. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. suit — clothes
  3. swing — to play on
  4. swing — in golf
  5. suit — to fit
  6. mate — to breed
  7. mate — a partner
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. face — part of the head
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. ball — a dance
  13. fine — high quality
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. swing — music
  16. fine — all right
  17. face — to confront
  18. suit — in cards
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. face — to point toward
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. mate — a friend
  24. fan — a supporter

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