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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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  3. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  4. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  7. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  8. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  9. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. He was locked up in a ________________.
  22. False peace will not ________________.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. last — final
  3. cell — in biology
  4. cell — a phone
  5. plane — a tool
  6. last — finally
  7. club — a group
  8. club — for golf
  9. club — for dancing
  10. rest — what's left
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. can — a tin
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. rest — what's left
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. rest — a break
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. rush — hurry
  21. cell — in a prison
  22. last — to go on
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. can — to be able to

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