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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. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. chair — to sit on
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. board — to get on
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. rush — hurry
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. can — a tin
  12. chair — a leader
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. chair — a professorship
  15. board — a committee
  16. can — a tin
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. can — to be able to
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. stick — to attach or keep to
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. leaves — to go away

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