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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. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  16. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. fork — in a road
  3. present — the time now
  4. file — a document
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. present — there
  7. key — for a lock
  8. file — a tool
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. key — the most important part
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. fork — a garden tool
  13. roll — a cake
  14. key — in music
  15. present — a gift
  16. fork — to eat with
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. file — a line of people
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. roll — a list
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. arm — part of the body

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