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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 like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  2. My father caught me by the ________________.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. toast — bread
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. mark — a trace
  4. mate — a friend
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. bound — certain
  7. mark — a grade
  8. can — to be able to
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. can — a tin
  17. mate — to breed
  18. can — a tin
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. bound — obliged
  21. mine — for digging
  22. bound — tied together
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. mate — a partner

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