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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. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. lean — thin
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. rash — a series
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. key — for a lock
  10. hide — animal skin
  11. lie — to recline
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. rash — hasty
  16. pit — a hole
  17. pit — in a race
  18. key — in music
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. key — the most important part
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. lean — to bend
  24. lie — an untruth

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