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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. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. David sat on the ________________.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. swing — music
  3. rest — what's left
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. rest — what's left
  7. rest — a break
  8. swing — in golf
  9. bulb — for light
  10. swing — to play on
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. bulb — for light
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. mug — a cup
  20. rush — hurry
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. mug — to rob
  24. mug — a face

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