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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.

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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. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  7. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  8. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. The water is too ________________.
  13. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. Many English words ________________ from Latin.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. rash — a series
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. cold — an illness
  5. suit — to fit
  6. object — to protest
  7. cold — the Cold War
  8. stem — of a plant
  9. rash — hasty
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. foot — a measure
  12. cold — not warm
  13. object — an aim
  14. mug — a face
  15. stem — a stem cell
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. suit — in cards
  18. mug — a cup
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. board — to get on
  21. mug — to rob
  22. suit — clothes
  23. board — a committee
  24. stem — to come from

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