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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 120 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. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  9. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. bear — the animal
  3. march — the month
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. foot — a measure
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. mine — for digging
  9. mine — belonging to me
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. bore — to drill
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. march — music
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. firm — a company
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. bore — to tire
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. march — the month
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. bear — the animal
  23. pass — a permit
  24. firm — steady

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