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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. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  8. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  9. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. wound — an injury
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. hand — part of the body
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. hand — help
  8. ground — the earth
  9. wound — an injury
  10. prune — to trim
  11. ground — crushed
  12. ground — a position
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. hand — in cards
  15. plane — a tool
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. ball — a dance
  19. foot — a measure
  20. wound — past of 'wind'
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. ball — a great time
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. prune — to trim

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