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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 felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  6. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  9. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. False peace will not ________________.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?

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

Answer key

  1. chest — of your body
  2. bear — the animal
  3. chest — a box
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. present — the time now
  6. last — final
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. chest — of your body
  9. last — finally
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. bear — the animal
  13. rush — hurry
  14. last — to go on
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. foot — a measure
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. tube — a container
  20. tube — the underground
  21. present — there
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. present — a gift

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