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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 room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  20. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. pitch — completely
  3. bound — tied together
  4. bark — to shout
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. pop — music
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. bound — certain
  10. cue — a signal
  11. foot — a measure
  12. pop — soda
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. bat — the animal
  15. pop — to visit
  16. cue — for pool
  17. bark — a dog's sound
  18. cue — a hint
  19. bat — for baseball
  20. bat — in an idiom
  21. bound — obliged
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. bark — of a tree

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