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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. Have you settled on a ________________?
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. lie — to recline
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. band — a rubber band
  6. root — the cause
  7. mark — a grade
  8. root — of a plant
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. band — a ring
  11. root — of a word
  12. date — the fruit
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. band — a music group
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. mark — a trace
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. foot — a measure
  24. hide — animal skin

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