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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. My father caught me by the ________________.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. board — to get on
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. lean — thin
  14. lean — to bend
  15. rush — hurry
  16. saw — the tool
  17. snap — to click
  18. board — a committee
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. sharp — clever
  21. snap — to speak sharply
  22. saw — the tool
  23. lie — to recline
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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