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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 · rest · dip · pass · can · ball · deal · face

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. pop — to visit
  4. face — to point toward
  5. face — part of the head
  6. can — to be able to
  7. dip — to sink
  8. rest — a break
  9. pass — a permit
  10. rest — what's left
  11. face — to confront
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. deal — to handle
  14. pop — music
  15. ball — a dance
  16. can — a tin
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. ball — a great time
  22. can — a tin
  23. pop — soda
  24. ball — a round shape

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