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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. We're on a ________________ here.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — on a roll
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. foot — a measure
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. rest — what's left
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. patient — calm and waiting
  11. roll — a cake
  12. net — in sport
  13. net — after costs
  14. roll — a list
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. rest — a break
  17. scale — in music
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. scale — size or range
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. rest — what's left
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. net — for catching

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