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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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. pit — a fruit stone
  3. staff — a stick
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. rest — a break
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. suit — in cards
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. pit — a hole
  12. staff — employees
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. rest — what's left
  16. suit — clothes
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. staff — employees
  19. pit — in a race
  20. rest — what's left
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. sharp — clever

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