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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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  13. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. bank — of a river
  3. saw — the tool
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. suit — in cards
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. field — for sport
  13. field — farmland
  14. foot — a measure
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. suit — to fit
  17. bank — for money
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. suit — clothes
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. bank — for money
  23. field — a subject
  24. arm — part of the body

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