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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. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. fine — all right
  3. stand — to bear
  4. toast — bread
  5. foot — a measure
  6. craft — a skill
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. net — in sport
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. net — after costs
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. net — for catching
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. craft — a handicraft
  21. fine — high quality
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. craft — boats
  24. foot — the bottom

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