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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 116 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.

Make a worksheet

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: rock · fine · racket · object · rash · hide · face · craft

  1. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  2. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  6. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to confront
  2. object — an aim
  3. fine — high quality
  4. face — to point toward
  5. craft — a handicraft
  6. craft — boats
  7. rash — a series
  8. face — part of the head
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. craft — a skill
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. rock — a stone
  13. rash — hasty
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. object — a thing
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. fine — all right
  21. object — to protest
  22. rock — music
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. racket — a loud noise

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