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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. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  19. There's no middle ________________.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. suit — to fit
  5. drill — army training
  6. suit — clothes
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. staff — a stick
  10. kid — child
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. staff — employees
  13. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  14. drill — a practice
  15. drill — the tool
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. ground — crushed
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. ground — a position
  20. foot — a measure
  21. staff — employees
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. kid — to tease
  24. suit — in cards

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