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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: toast · cap · can · current · lean · bay · face · racket

  1. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. lean — to bend
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. face — to confront
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. can — to be able to
  7. lean — thin
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. can — a tin
  10. face — part of the head
  11. current — happening now
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. face — to point toward
  15. cap — of ice
  16. current — of water
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. cap — a hat
  20. current — electric
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. can — a tin
  24. toast — bread

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