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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. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. I would like to have a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. rest — what's left
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. tube — a container
  7. track — a song
  8. bear — the animal
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. charge — in control
  11. fork — in a road
  12. rest — what's left
  13. track — to keep track
  14. fork — a garden tool
  15. charge — a price
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. tube — the underground
  18. fork — to eat with
  19. foot — a measure
  20. bear — the animal
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. charge — electricity
  23. track — a path
  24. rest — a break

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