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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. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. object — a thing
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. sharp — clever
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. suit — to fit
  7. saw — the tool
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. object — to protest
  10. prune — to trim
  11. fine — high quality
  12. suit — in cards
  13. fine — all right
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. suit — clothes
  16. prune — to trim
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. tube — the underground
  19. tube — a container
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. object — an aim
  24. saw — the tool

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