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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: chip · lie · court · jam · wax · fine · face · can

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  16. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  17. The ball is in your ________________.
  18. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  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. lie — an untruth
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. fine — all right
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. wax — to grow
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. can — a tin
  8. fine — high quality
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. can — a tin
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. chip — for betting
  14. chip — to eat
  15. court — of a king
  16. face — to point toward
  17. court — for sport
  18. court — of law
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. lie — to recline
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. face — part of the head
  23. can — to be able to
  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