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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. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  15. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. He was locked up in a ________________.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. ball — a great time
  3. file — a document
  4. mate — to breed
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. drill — army training
  8. ball — a dance
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. foot — a measure
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. drill — the tool
  13. file — a tool
  14. cell — in biology
  15. drill — a practice
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. cell — a phone
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. toast — bread
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. cell — in a prison
  22. mate — a partner
  23. file — a line of people
  24. mate — a friend

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