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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 120 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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. My father caught me by the ________________.
  3. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. kid — child
  4. bank — for money
  5. suit — to fit
  6. can — a tin
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. bore — to tire
  10. bank — of a river
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  13. can — to be able to
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. foot — a measure
  17. bore — to drill
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. suit — in cards
  20. can — a tin
  21. kid — to tease
  22. stand — to bear
  23. bank — for money
  24. suit — clothes

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