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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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. foot — a measure
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. cue — a hint
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. cue — a signal
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. cue — for pool
  21. deal — to handle
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. fan — to cool the air

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