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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: bay · face · pitcher · saw · fine · mouse · cabinet · mine

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. face — to point toward
  3. saw — the tool
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. mine — for digging
  9. fine — high quality
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. fine — all right
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. face — part of the head
  17. saw — the tool
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. face — to confront
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. mouse — the animal

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