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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. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. rock — a stone
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. staff — a stick
  6. bound — tied together
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. bound — certain
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. net — in sport
  11. net — after costs
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. staff — employees
  14. bound — obliged
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. staff — employees
  17. rock — music
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. sharp — clever
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. toast — bread
  23. net — for catching
  24. arm — 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