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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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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: foot · cap · mark · wave · face · safe · dip · pit

  1. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  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. wave — with your hand
  2. cap — a hat
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. face — to point toward
  5. face — part of the head
  6. mark — a grade
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. mark — a trace
  10. dip — to sink
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. cap — a lid
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. wave — a sudden rise
  16. pit — in a race
  17. foot — a measure
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. pit — a hole
  21. cap — of ice
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. dip — a sauce
  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