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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: cap · wake · object · ball · face · bear · bank · jam

  1. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  2. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  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. wake — to stop sleeping
  2. cap — of ice
  3. bank — for money
  4. face — part of the head
  5. bear — the animal
  6. object — to protest
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. face — to point toward
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. ball — a great time
  11. bank — for money
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. cap — a hat
  14. bear — the animal
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. wake — a trail
  17. object — a thing
  18. bank — of a river
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. cap — a lid
  21. ball — a dance
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. object — an aim
  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