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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
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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 · can · lie · patient · net · wave · temple · jam

  1. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  24. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — after costs
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. face — part of the head
  6. wave — a sudden rise
  7. can — to be able to
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. patient — calm and waiting
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. can — a tin
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. face — to confront
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. net — in sport
  19. can — a tin
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. net — for catching
  22. lie — to recline
  23. face — to point toward
  24. wave — of the sea

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