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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. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. firm — steady
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. wax — to grow
  7. foot — a measure
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. board — to get on
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. firm — decided
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. firm — a company
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. bowl — a football final
  23. board — a committee
  24. bowl — to roll

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