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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.

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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: rest · bore · bulb · mark · face · current · lie · stand

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. lie — to recline
  3. mark — a trace
  4. face — to point toward
  5. rest — what's left
  6. current — happening now
  7. face — part of the head
  8. bulb — for light
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. current — of water
  11. bore — to drill
  12. rest — what's left
  13. rest — a break
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. stand — to bear
  16. current — electric
  17. face — to confront
  18. bore — to tire
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. bulb — for light
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. mark — a grade
  24. bulb — of a plant

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