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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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. rest — what's left
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. rock — music
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. pass — a permit
  9. mine — belonging to me
  10. rest — a break
  11. foot — a measure
  12. suit — in cards
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. mine — for digging
  18. rock — a stone
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. mine — an explosive
  23. suit — clothes
  24. rest — what's left

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