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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. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. The ball is in your ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. foot — a measure
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. court — of a king
  6. rock — music
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. mark — a trace
  10. bear — the animal
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. court — of law
  14. rock — a stone
  15. mark — a grade
  16. lean — to bend
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. bear — the animal
  19. lean — thin
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. mine — for digging
  22. court — for sport
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. mine — belonging to me

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