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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 have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  20. False peace will not ________________.
  21. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. snap — to snap out of it
  5. prune — to trim
  6. rash — a series
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. snap — to speak sharply
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. foot — a measure
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. last — finally
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. rash — hasty
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. last — final
  20. last — to go on
  21. snap — to click
  22. prune — to trim
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. foot — the bottom

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