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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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: snap · key · spell · face · rush · foot · ball · pound

  1. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  4. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. face — to confront
  4. snap — to snap out of it
  5. face — part of the head
  6. ball — a great time
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. pound — for dogs
  9. key — the most important part
  10. spell — magic
  11. pound — a weight
  12. spell — a short time
  13. spell — letters
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. rush — hurry
  16. pound — to hit hard
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. face — to point toward
  19. key — in music
  20. ball — a dance
  21. key — for a lock
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. snap — to speak sharply
  24. snap — to click

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