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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'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  17. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. bass — the fish
  4. lean — to bend
  5. can — to be able to
  6. dip — a sauce
  7. bound — tied together
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. can — a tin
  10. lean — thin
  11. bass — low music
  12. bound — certain
  13. dip — to sink
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. can — a tin
  16. fork — in a road
  17. fork — to eat with
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. fork — a garden tool
  20. bear — the animal
  21. bound — obliged
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. bear — the animal

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