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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'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  21. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  22. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. press — newspapers
  5. toast — bread
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. press — a publisher
  8. stem — to come from
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. board — to get on
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. face — part of the head
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. squash — to crush
  15. board — a committee
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. press — to push
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. stem — of a plant
  21. face — to point toward
  22. squash — the sport
  23. face — to confront
  24. calf — a young animal

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