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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 116 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
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: season · face · fine · bay · band · cabinet · ball · fork

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  8. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  11. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  12. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. face — to point toward
  3. ball — a great time
  4. ball — a dance
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. fine — high quality
  7. fork — in a road
  8. band — a ring
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. band — a rubber band
  11. fork — to eat with
  12. band — a music group
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. face — to confront
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. season — of the year
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. fork — a garden tool
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. fine — all right
  22. face — part of the head
  23. season — in sport
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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