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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. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  2. My father caught me by the ________________.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  11. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — with a leg
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. kick — a thrill
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. hide — animal skin
  11. kick — in football
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. charge — in control
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. charge — electricity
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. charge — a price
  20. rock — a stone
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. rock — music
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. mouse — the animal

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