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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. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. present — the time now
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. perch — the fish
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. board — to get on
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. key — for a lock
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. saw — the tool
  13. present — a gift
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. saw — the tool
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. key — the most important part
  18. present — there
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. key — in music
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. board — a committee
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. board — a flat piece

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