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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  6. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. bark — a dog's sound
  6. bark — of a tree
  7. bear — the animal
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. charge — electricity
  10. season — of the year
  11. foot — a measure
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. season — in sport
  15. charge — a price
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. cap — of ice
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. bark — to shout
  20. bear — the animal
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. cap — a hat
  23. cap — a lid
  24. hide — animal skin

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