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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: pop · object · spell · coach · face · roll · suit · wax

  1. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. We're on a ________________ here.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. roll — a list
  4. wax — to grow
  5. suit — in cards
  6. spell — a short time
  7. face — to confront
  8. pop — to visit
  9. roll — a cake
  10. object — a thing
  11. suit — to fit
  12. suit — clothes
  13. face — to point toward
  14. object — to protest
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. spell — magic
  19. pop — soda
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. object — an aim
  22. roll — on a roll
  23. spell — letters
  24. pop — music

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