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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 had a ________________ with my boss today.
  2. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. David sat on the ________________.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a quarrel
  2. swing — music
  3. row — to paddle
  4. mine — for digging
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. charge — electricity
  7. swing — in golf
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. foot — a measure
  10. charge — a price
  11. rash — a series
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. rash — hasty
  14. charge — in control
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. row — a line
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. swing — to play on
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. mine — belonging to me
  24. rash — on the skin

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