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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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. When are we going to ________________?
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  13. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  21. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. straw — dry grass
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. bark — a dog's sound
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. charge — electricity
  8. land — to come down
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. bark — of a tree
  11. pop — soda
  12. land — a country
  13. bark — to shout
  14. pop — to visit
  15. pop — music
  16. charge — a price
  17. land — ground
  18. bore — to drill
  19. charge — in control
  20. straw — a straw man
  21. straw — to clutch at straws
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. foot — a measure
  24. bore — to tire

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