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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.

Make a worksheet

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. My father caught me by the ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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. safe — a strongbox
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. root — of a plant
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. saw — the tool
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. suit — to fit
  12. bass — the fish
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. suit — in cards
  16. saw — the tool
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. bass — low music
  20. root — the cause
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. root — of a word
  24. fan — a supporter

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