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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. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — government
  2. pop — music
  3. rule — to rule out
  4. cue — a hint
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. pop — soda
  9. bat — for baseball
  10. cue — for pool
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. bat — in an idiom
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. pop — to visit
  16. cue — a signal
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. bat — the animal
  21. foot — a measure
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. rule — a law
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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