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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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  3. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. bass — low music
  3. lean — to bend
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. arm — a part of something
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. toast — bread
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. can — a tin
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. mug — a cup
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. mug — a face
  17. lean — to rest against
  18. bass — the fish
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. can — a tin
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. mug — to rob
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. lean — thin

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