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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. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. The ball is in your ________________.
  4. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  16. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. foot — a measure
  3. court — for sport
  4. squash — the vegetable
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. toast — bread
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. staff — employees
  10. hand — part of the body
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. court — of law
  16. court — of a king
  17. staff — a stick
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. squash — to crush
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. hand — help
  23. hand — in cards
  24. squash — the sport

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