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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 have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. wake — a trail
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. straw — a straw man
  5. board — to get on
  6. mug — to rob
  7. season — of the year
  8. straw — to clutch at straws
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. mug — a cup
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. season — in sport
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. mug — a face
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. board — a committee
  23. foot — a measure
  24. straw — dry grass

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