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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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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 have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. fine — high quality
  3. board — a committee
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. foot — a measure
  8. lie — to recline
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. sharp — clever
  13. content — the amount
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. fine — all right
  16. board — to get on
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. stem — of a plant
  19. stem — to come from
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. content — videos and posts
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. content — happy
  24. foot — the bottom

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