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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. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  8. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. mine — belonging to me
  5. mark — a grade
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. date — the fruit
  8. mine — for digging
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. season — in sport
  13. saw — the tool
  14. saw — the tool
  15. foot — a measure
  16. chip — to eat
  17. board — a committee
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. chip — for betting
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. mark — a trace
  23. board — to get on
  24. season — of the year

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