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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. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  5. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. rash — a series
  4. hand — help
  5. object — a thing
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. hand — part of the body
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. hand — in cards
  12. bound — tied together
  13. object — to protest
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. bound — certain
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. object — an aim
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. bound — obliged
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. rash — hasty
  24. foot — a measure

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