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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 120 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. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. key — for a lock
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. key — the most important part
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. foot — a measure
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. trunk — of a tree
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. key — in music
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. stand — to bear
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. pitcher — a jug

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