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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. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. He was locked up in a ________________.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. cell — in biology
  3. cue — a hint
  4. prune — to trim
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. prune — the fruit
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. cue — for pool
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. key — the most important part
  11. key — in music
  12. foot — a measure
  13. cell — in a prison
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. prune — to trim
  17. key — for a lock
  18. cell — a phone
  19. cue — a signal
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. rock — a stone
  22. bore — to drill
  23. bore — to tire
  24. rock — music

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