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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 116 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: wake · staff · hand · face · net · safe · suit · board

  1. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  3. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  9. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. hand — help
  3. wake — before a funeral
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. suit — to fit
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. board — a committee
  8. hand — in cards
  9. wake — a trail
  10. staff — a stick
  11. hand — part of the body
  12. net — for catching
  13. staff — employees
  14. board — to get on
  15. suit — clothes
  16. face — to confront
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. net — after costs
  21. staff — employees
  22. suit — in cards
  23. net — in sport
  24. face — to point toward

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