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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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  7. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. suit — in cards
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. straw — to clutch at straws
  7. straw — a straw man
  8. suit — to fit
  9. cue — for pool
  10. foot — a measure
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. cue — a signal
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. board — to get on
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. board — a committee
  20. cue — a hint
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. straw — dry grass

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