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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: fan · ruler · key · face · pit · wound · bank · perch

  1. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  2. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. This looks like a gunshot ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — past of 'wind'
  2. face — part of the head
  3. bank — for money
  4. key — in music
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. bank — of a river
  8. face — to confront
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. pit — a hole
  11. key — for a lock
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. perch — the fish
  14. wound — an injury
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. pit — in a race
  17. key — the most important part
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. bank — for money
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. face — to point toward
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. wound — an injury

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