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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. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. content — videos and posts
  3. cue — for pool
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. rash — hasty
  8. cue — a hint
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. foot — a measure
  11. content — happy
  12. rash — a series
  13. prune — the fruit
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. content — the amount
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. prune — to trim
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. cue — a signal
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. prune — to trim

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