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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.

Make a worksheet

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: file · racket · face · leaves · stick · ball · scale · suit

  1. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. suit — to fit
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. ball — a great time
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. face — to point toward
  8. suit — clothes
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. ball — a dance
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. scale — in music
  13. file — a line of people
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. suit — in cards
  16. scale — size or range
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. file — a document
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. file — a tool
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. face — to confront

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