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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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Word bank
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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. That was a fun ________________.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  18. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. game — a match
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. game — wild animals
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. can — a tin
  10. suit — in cards
  11. can — a tin
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. suit — to fit
  16. suit — clothes
  17. game — a kind of play
  18. stick — to attach or keep to
  19. mug — to rob
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. mug — a cup
  22. toast — bread
  23. can — to be able to
  24. trunk — of a tree

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