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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 120 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. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  7. That was a fun ________________.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. ball — a dance
  6. game — wild animals
  7. game — a match
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. bear — the animal
  10. season — of the year
  11. ball — a great time
  12. game — a kind of play
  13. cue — for pool
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. cue — a hint
  16. bear — the animal
  17. rest — what's left
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. rest — a break
  20. cue — a signal
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. season — in sport
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. arm — part of the body

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