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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. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. suit — clothes
  3. suit — in cards
  4. face — to point toward
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. face — to confront
  7. club — for golf
  8. pit — in a race
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. suit — to fit
  12. club — for dancing
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. face — part of the head
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. club — a group
  21. pit — a hole
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. bowl — a football final

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