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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: mug · bank · pass · face · tear · scale · jam · rash

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  9. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. tear — from crying
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. pass — a permit
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. mug — a cup
  8. tear — from crying
  9. face — to confront
  10. bank — for money
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. scale — size or range
  15. scale — in music
  16. rash — hasty
  17. tear — to rip
  18. face — part of the head
  19. face — to point toward
  20. bank — of a river
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. bank — for money
  23. mug — to rob
  24. mug — a face

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