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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.

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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: cue · deal · stand · safe · row · fan · arm · face

  1. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. deal — to handle
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. cue — a hint
  7. face — to confront
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. cue — for pool
  15. row — a line
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. row — to paddle
  18. stand — to bear
  19. face — to point toward
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. row — a quarrel
  24. cue — a signal

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