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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. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  16. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  19. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. spell — a short time
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. march — the month
  7. spell — magic
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. spell — letters
  15. mine — for digging
  16. mine — an explosive
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. mine — belonging to me
  19. march — music
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. march — the month
  23. stand — to bear
  24. foot — the bottom

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