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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. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  24. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. charge — a price
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. squash — to crush
  6. stock — shares
  7. face — to confront
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. charge — in control
  12. squash — the vegetable
  13. stock — goods
  14. charge — electricity
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. squash — the sport
  20. foot — a measure
  21. prune — to trim
  22. prune — to trim
  23. face — part of the head
  24. face — to point toward

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