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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. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  7. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  12. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  23. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  24. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. row — a line
  3. drill — the tool
  4. lie — to recline
  5. staff — a stick
  6. club — a group
  7. drill — a practice
  8. staff — employees
  9. row — a quarrel
  10. drill — army training
  11. club — for dancing
  12. vault — in gymnastics
  13. foot — a measure
  14. bank — of a river
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. bank — for money
  18. staff — employees
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. club — for golf
  21. bank — for money
  22. vault — a safe
  23. row — to paddle
  24. vault — an arched ceiling

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