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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. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  7. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. file — a document
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. mug — to rob
  6. degree — from a university
  7. file — a line of people
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. mate — a partner
  10. file — a tool
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. board — to get on
  14. mate — a friend
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. mate — to breed
  19. mug — a face
  20. board — a committee
  21. degree — an amount
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. degree — temperature

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