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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. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  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. foot — part of the body
  2. scale — size or range
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. bark — a dog's sound
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. fine — all right
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. charge — a price
  9. fine — high quality
  10. season — of the year
  11. charge — in control
  12. season — in sport
  13. charge — electricity
  14. bark — to shout
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. rock — a stone
  20. scale — in music
  21. rock — music
  22. bark — of a tree
  23. lie — to recline
  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