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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. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  17. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — the most admired
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. pit — in a race
  4. season — in sport
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. foot — a measure
  7. pound — for dogs
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. pit — a hole
  11. present — a gift
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. pound — a weight
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. present — the time now
  17. pound — to hit hard
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. season — of the year
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. present — there
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. toast — bread

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