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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  9. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. We're on a ________________ here.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. mug — a face
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. roll — a cake
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. foot — a measure
  8. pound — to hit hard
  9. pound — for dogs
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. roll — a list
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. roll — on a roll
  14. saw — the tool
  15. pound — a weight
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. squash — to crush
  18. squash — the sport
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. squash — the vegetable
  21. stock — goods
  22. stock — shares
  23. saw — the tool
  24. mug — to rob

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