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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 have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. The ball is in your ________________.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. Have you settled on a ________________?
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  22. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. charge — a price
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. court — for sport
  5. rest — what's left
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. season — in sport
  11. court — of a king
  12. rest — what's left
  13. season — of the year
  14. dip — to sink
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. charge — electricity
  17. lie — to recline
  18. charge — in control
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. foot — a measure
  21. date — the fruit
  22. court — of law
  23. rest — a break
  24. dip — a sauce

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