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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  22. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  23. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. mug — a face
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. bulb — for light
  5. mug — a cup
  6. craft — a handicraft
  7. mug — to rob
  8. wave — with your hand
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. foot — a measure
  13. lie — to recline
  14. bulb — for light
  15. plane — a tool
  16. ball — a dance
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. craft — boats
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. wave — of the sea
  22. craft — a skill
  23. wave — a sudden rise
  24. ball — a great time

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