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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 120 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. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. rest — what's left
  3. pop — soda
  4. pop — music
  5. staff — employees
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. rest — a break
  8. staff — a stick
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. spell — letters
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. pop — to visit
  15. staff — employees
  16. spell — magic
  17. foot — a measure
  18. rest — what's left
  19. spell — a short time
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. branch — a division
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. safe — out of danger

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