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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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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'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. kid — to tease
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. bank — for money
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. toast — bread
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. scale — in music
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. scale — size or range
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. kid — child
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  17. cue — a signal
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. bank — of a river
  20. cue — a hint
  21. cue — for pool
  22. bank — for money
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. arm — a part of something

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