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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 120 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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  5. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  17. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. rest — what's left
  4. spring — of water
  5. spring — a coil
  6. foot — a measure
  7. spring — the season
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. bear — the animal
  10. chair — a leader
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. cue — a signal
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. rest — what's left
  17. chair — to sit on
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. rest — a break
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. bear — the animal
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. cue — for pool
  24. chair — a professorship

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