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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: deal · coach · scale · ground · rest · face · charge · bay

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. There's no middle ________________.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. deal — to handle
  3. ground — the earth
  4. face — to point toward
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. ground — a position
  8. face — to confront
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. charge — a price
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. rest — a break
  13. scale — in music
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. ground — crushed
  16. scale — size or range
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. rest — what's left
  19. charge — electricity
  20. charge — in control
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. face — part of the head
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. rest — what's left

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