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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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. My father caught me by the ________________.
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  11. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  12. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. David sat on the ________________.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  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. key — in music
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. row — to paddle
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. key — for a lock
  7. foot — a measure
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. dip — to sink
  10. row — a line
  11. row — a quarrel
  12. swing — music
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. bass — the fish
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. bass — low music
  18. swing — to play on
  19. key — the most important part
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. swing — in golf
  23. dip — a sauce
  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