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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. He is an ace ________________.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  21. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. charge — electricity
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. march — the month
  7. chip — to eat
  8. chip — for betting
  9. season — in sport
  10. toast — bread
  11. march — music
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. season — of the year
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. chip — in a computer
  21. march — the month
  22. charge — in control
  23. foot — a measure
  24. charge — a price

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