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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: arm · foot · patient · cell · current · season · pit · ball

  1. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  14. He was locked up in a ________________.
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in biology
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. ball — a great time
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. foot — a measure
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. current — electric
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. season — in sport
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. cell — a phone
  14. cell — in a prison
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. season — of the year
  17. pit — a hole
  18. patient — calm and waiting
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. current — of water
  21. current — happening now
  22. pit — in a race
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. ball — a dance

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