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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. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. foot — a measure
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. deal — to handle
  5. current — electric
  6. track — a path
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. saw — the tool
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. stick — to attach or keep to
  13. current — happening now
  14. suit — to fit
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. track — a song
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. suit — clothes
  20. track — to keep track
  21. current — of water
  22. saw — the tool
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. suit — in cards

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