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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 like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. Have you settled on a ________________?
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. toast — bread
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. plane — a tool
  8. fine — all right
  9. bank — of a river
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. bank — for money
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. foot — a measure
  16. date — the fruit
  17. bank — for money
  18. pit — a hole
  19. fine — high quality
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. pit — in a race
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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