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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.

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: face · spring · lash · bear · bass · leaves · vault · object

  1. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  16. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  22. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  23. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  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. face — part of the head
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. object — to protest
  4. bear — the animal
  5. bear — the animal
  6. spring — of water
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. bass — the fish
  11. face — to point toward
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. bass — low music
  15. vault — in gymnastics
  16. spring — a coil
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. object — an aim
  20. object — a thing
  21. vault — a safe
  22. spring — the season
  23. vault — an arched ceiling
  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