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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. rock — a stone
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. field — farmland
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. key — in music
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. current — of water
  13. current — electric
  14. field — for sport
  15. current — happening now
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. field — a subject
  18. tube — the underground
  19. rock — music
  20. key — for a lock
  21. rush — hurry
  22. key — the most important part
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. tube — a container

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