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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. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. toast — bread
  4. can — a tin
  5. can — a tin
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. tube — the underground
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. current — happening now
  11. current — electric
  12. deal — to handle
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. current — of water
  16. foot — a measure
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. can — to be able to
  23. tube — a container
  24. toast — the most admired

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