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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: toast · pitcher · lie · bound · face · mouse · wake · root

  1. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to point toward
  2. root — the cause
  3. wake — a trail
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. bound — tied together
  6. bound — certain
  7. root — of a word
  8. face — to confront
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. face — part of the head
  16. toast — bread
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. root — of a plant
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. lie — to recline
  23. bound — obliged
  24. mouse — the animal

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