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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. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. mark — a trace
  3. net — for catching
  4. rock — a stone
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. perch — the fish
  8. mark — a grade
  9. net — after costs
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. pop — soda
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. net — in sport
  15. saw — the tool
  16. rock — music
  17. pop — music
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. pop — to visit
  22. saw — the tool
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. perch — for a bird

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