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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.

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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: capital · bay · face · firm · bulb · can · mug · ground

  1. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  2. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  16. There's no middle ________________.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to point toward
  2. face — part of the head
  3. can — a tin
  4. bulb — for light
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. can — a tin
  7. mug — a face
  8. face — to confront
  9. capital — a city
  10. can — to be able to
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. firm — decided
  13. firm — a company
  14. mug — a cup
  15. capital — a big letter
  16. ground — a position
  17. firm — steady
  18. ground — crushed
  19. bulb — for light
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. ground — the earth
  22. mug — to rob
  23. capital — money
  24. bay — a horse colour

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