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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. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  11. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. staff — employees
  3. foot — a measure
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. key — the most important part
  7. key — for a lock
  8. key — in music
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. content — videos and posts
  11. content — the amount
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. file — a document
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. file — a tool
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. file — a line of people
  19. staff — employees
  20. content — happy
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. board — a committee
  23. staff — a stick
  24. board — to get on

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