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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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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: suit · face · race · drill · leaves · can · firm · saw

  1. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  7. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. face — part of the head
  4. race — humankind
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. race — the arms race
  7. drill — army training
  8. can — a tin
  9. face — to confront
  10. suit — to fit
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. saw — the tool
  13. suit — in cards
  14. firm — steady
  15. drill — the tool
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. can — to be able to
  18. can — a tin
  19. saw — the tool
  20. firm — decided
  21. face — to point toward
  22. firm — a company
  23. suit — clothes
  24. race — a contest

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