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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'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. object — a thing
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. spell — magic
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. spell — letters
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. object — to protest
  13. pop — to visit
  14. pop — soda
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. bore — to drill
  17. object — an aim
  18. bore — to tire
  19. spell — a short time
  20. pop — music
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. leaves — lets stay

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