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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. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  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. game — a kind of play
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. game — wild animals
  6. toast — bread
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. foot — a measure
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. branch — a division
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. mug — a cup
  14. mug — to rob
  15. mark — a grade
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. game — a match
  20. mark — a trace
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. foot — the bottom
  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