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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 president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. squash — to crush
  3. pit — a hole
  4. squash — the sport
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. stem — to come from
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. squash — the vegetable
  9. foot — a measure
  10. stem — of a plant
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. toast — bread
  18. pit — a fruit stone
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. stem — a stem cell
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. pit — in a race
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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