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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.

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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: deal · firm · mine · rock · bowl · pass · mouse · face

  1. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to point toward
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. firm — decided
  4. rock — a stone
  5. deal — to handle
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. firm — a company
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. mine — an explosive
  12. mine — for digging
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. mine — belonging to me
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. firm — steady
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. pass — a permit
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. rock — music
  22. face — part of the head
  23. face — to confront
  24. bowl — a football final

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