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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. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. deal — to handle
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. foot — a measure
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. roll — a list
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. key — the most important part
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. key — in music
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. roll — a cake
  24. key — for a lock

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