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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. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  8. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  9. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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. mouse — for a computer
  4. net — after costs
  5. foot — a measure
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. clip — to cut
  8. clip — for paper
  9. clip — a video
  10. suit — in cards
  11. net — in sport
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. net — for catching
  15. suit — clothes
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. suit — to fit
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. cap — of ice
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. cap — a lid
  23. deal — to handle
  24. cap — a hat

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