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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. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  3. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. mine — belonging to me
  3. pop — music
  4. pit — in a race
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. object — a thing
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. object — to protest
  12. pop — soda
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. mine — for digging
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. object — an aim
  19. pop — to visit
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. foot — a measure
  22. pit — a hole
  23. mine — an explosive
  24. wax — to grow

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