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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. My father caught me by the ________________.
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  17. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  18. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. plane — a tool
  6. toast — bread
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. board — to get on
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. lie — to recline
  16. wake — before a funeral
  17. hand — part of the body
  18. hand — in cards
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. board — a committee
  22. hand — help
  23. wake — a trail
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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