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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 met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — belonging to me
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. file — a document
  4. rush — hurry
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. mug — a face
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. mine — an explosive
  12. mug — to rob
  13. mine — for digging
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. mug — a cup
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. file — a tool
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. foot — a measure
  24. file — a line of people

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