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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: face · safe · lash · game · can · ball · fine · rule

  1. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  4. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. That was a fun ________________.
  12. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  17. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — to rule out
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. face — to confront
  4. rule — a law
  5. fine — high quality
  6. face — to point toward
  7. game — wild animals
  8. fine — all right
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. game — a match
  12. rule — government
  13. ball — a dance
  14. can — a tin
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. face — part of the head
  17. game — a kind of play
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. can — to be able to
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. can — a tin
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. ball — a great time

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