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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. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. She's sitting on a gold ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. present — the time now
  3. rock — a stone
  4. season — in sport
  5. rock — music
  6. present — there
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. season — of the year
  11. current — electric
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. mine — an explosive
  14. rest — what's left
  15. present — a gift
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. foot — a measure
  19. current — of water
  20. rest — what's left
  21. current — happening now
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. rest — a break
  24. mine — for digging

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