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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: can · coach · mouse · pit · face · cap · temple · leaves

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. The polar ice ________________ is melting.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. face — to confront
  3. pit — a hole
  4. can — a tin
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. cap — a hat
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. face — part of the head
  11. cap — a lid
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. face — to point toward
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. pit — in a race
  17. can — to be able to
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. can — a tin
  24. cap — of ice

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