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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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. My father caught me by the ________________.
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. The ball is in your ________________.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. season — in sport
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. court — of a king
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. spring — of water
  14. saw — the tool
  15. spring — a coil
  16. season — of the year
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. spring — the season
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. court — for sport
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. saw — the tool
  24. court — of law

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