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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
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: face · present · nail · mouse · roll · mate · bear · bass

  1. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. mate — to breed
  3. face — to point toward
  4. mate — a partner
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. roll — a cake
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. present — the time now
  10. face — part of the head
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. present — there
  13. bass — the fish
  14. roll — a list
  15. mate — a friend
  16. face — to confront
  17. present — a gift
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. bear — the animal
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. bass — low music
  24. roll — on a roll

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