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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 have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  9. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. mark — a grade
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. mug — to rob
  7. mug — a face
  8. spring — a coil
  9. spring — the season
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. spring — of water
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. mug — a cup
  15. foot — a measure
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. mark — a trace
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. plane — a tool
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. jam — in traffic

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