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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. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  7. David sat on the ________________.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  10. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  16. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  21. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. suit — clothes
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. fall — to drop
  7. swing — to play on
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. fall — the season
  10. bark — a dog's sound
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. swing — in golf
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. bark — to shout
  16. swing — music
  17. rest — what's left
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. bark — of a tree
  21. rest — a break
  22. suit — in cards
  23. suit — to fit
  24. fall — to drop

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