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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. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  19. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. I play ________________ in a jazz band.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. bound — certain
  4. file — a tool
  5. rock — music
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. bound — tied together
  9. rock — a stone
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. bass — the fish
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. stand — to bear
  16. foot — a measure
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. file — a line of people
  19. file — a document
  20. bound — obliged
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. bass — low music
  24. bass — the instrument

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