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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. mark — a grade
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. bear — the animal
  7. face — part of the head
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. rest — what's left
  10. face — to point toward
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. face — to confront
  14. rest — a break
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. saw — the tool
  18. bear — the animal
  19. mark — a trace
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. rest — what's left
  22. saw — the tool
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. bear — to put up with

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