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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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. fine — high quality
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. band — a ring
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. band — a music group
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. stand — to bear
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. fine — all right
  13. bank — for money
  14. toast — bread
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. bore — to drill
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. bore — to tire
  20. foot — a measure
  21. band — a rubber band
  22. bank — of a river
  23. bank — for money
  24. fine — a penalty

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