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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: sharp · mug · coach · bass · toast · face · lie · board

  1. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. face — to point toward
  5. toast — bread
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. board — to get on
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. mug — to rob
  14. lie — to recline
  15. face — to confront
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. board — a committee
  18. mug — a cup
  19. bass — low music
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. mug — a face
  22. face — part of the head
  23. sharp — clever
  24. coach — a trainer

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