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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.

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: spell · field · safe · present · leaves · pit · face · scale

  1. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  11. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  23. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. pit — a hole
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. scale — size or range
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. present — a gift
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. spell — a short time
  10. field — farmland
  11. field — for sport
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. spell — magic
  14. spell — letters
  15. face — to point toward
  16. scale — in music
  17. pit — in a race
  18. face — to confront
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. face — part of the head
  22. present — there
  23. field — a subject
  24. safe — out of danger

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