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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. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  2. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  3. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  11. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. present — a gift
  2. present — the time now
  3. row — a line
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. charge — electricity
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. hide — animal skin
  11. present — there
  12. charge — in control
  13. row — a quarrel
  14. roll — a cake
  15. track — a path
  16. row — to paddle
  17. charge — a price
  18. track — to keep track
  19. roll — a list
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. suit — to fit
  22. suit — in cards
  23. track — a song
  24. suit — clothes

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