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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. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. suit — clothes
  3. key — in music
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. file — a document
  7. foot — a measure
  8. file — a line of people
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. key — the most important part
  11. file — a tool
  12. staff — employees
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. season — in sport
  16. suit — to fit
  17. suit — in cards
  18. staff — a stick
  19. staff — employees
  20. key — for a lock
  21. season — of the year
  22. mark — a grade
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. foot — the bottom

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