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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. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  24. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. spring — a coil
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. spring — of water
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. object — to protest
  9. spring — the season
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. lie — to recline
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. perch — the fish
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. vault — an arched ceiling
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. vault — a safe
  20. object — a thing
  21. object — an aim
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. vault — in gymnastics
  24. perch — for a bird

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