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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 120 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. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  15. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — with your hand
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. row — a line
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. row — to paddle
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. lie — to recline
  14. wave — of the sea
  15. wave — a sudden rise
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. tube — the underground
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. tube — a container
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. row — a quarrel
  24. foot — a measure

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