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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
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: current · object · ruler · ground · bass · season · date · face

  1. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  9. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  18. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  19. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  20. There's no middle ________________.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. Have you settled on a ________________?
  24. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?

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

Answer key

  1. face — to confront
  2. date — the fruit
  3. current — electric
  4. current — of water
  5. bass — the fish
  6. face — part of the head
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. ground — crushed
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. season — of the year
  12. bass — low music
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. face — to point toward
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. current — happening now
  17. ground — the earth
  18. object — an aim
  19. object — a thing
  20. ground — a position
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. season — in sport
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. object — to protest

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