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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 refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  18. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. mate — a friend
  4. board — to get on
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. mate — to breed
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. foot — a measure
  9. fall — the season
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. rest — what's left
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. mug — to rob
  14. mate — a partner
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. board — a committee
  17. fall — to drop
  18. rest — what's left
  19. mug — a face
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. fall — to drop
  22. saw — the tool
  23. rest — a break
  24. saw — the tool

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