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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. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. staff — a stick
  4. straw — to clutch at straws
  5. season — of the year
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. staff — employees
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. staff — employees
  12. bulb — for light
  13. deal — to handle
  14. straw — dry grass
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. season — in sport
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. bulb — for light
  21. wax — to grow
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. straw — a straw man
  24. arm — part of the body

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