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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 120 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: safe · lie · cold · face · mug · mouse · fan · deal

  1. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  24. The water is too ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. face — to confront
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. face — to point toward
  7. deal — to handle
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. mug — to rob
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. cold — an illness
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. cold — the Cold War
  14. lie — to recline
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. mug — a cup
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. mug — a face
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. face — part of the head
  24. cold — not warm

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