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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. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  2. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. race — the arms race
  2. race — a contest
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. sharp — clever
  5. foot — a measure
  6. scale — in music
  7. mug — to rob
  8. scale — size or range
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. can — a tin
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. mug — a cup
  15. can — to be able to
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. race — humankind
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. rush — hurry
  22. can — a tin
  23. mug — a face
  24. foot — 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