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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 · rock · staff · can · spell · leaves · cap

  1. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. The polar ice ________________ is melting.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. can — a tin
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. staff — employees
  6. spell — letters
  7. spell — a short time
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. can — to be able to
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. staff — employees
  12. cap — a hat
  13. spell — magic
  14. cap — a lid
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. rock — music
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. foot — a measure
  19. rock — a stone
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. can — a tin
  22. staff — a stick
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. cap — of ice

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