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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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  13. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. current — of water
  3. root — of a plant
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. root — the cause
  8. squash — the sport
  9. season — of the year
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. toast — bread
  12. squash — the vegetable
  13. craft — boats
  14. current — happening now
  15. current — electric
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. craft — a skill
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. root — of a word
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. squash — to crush
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. season — in sport

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