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

Word bank: foot · arm · bulb · mate · safe · firm · stand · fall

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  7. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. fall — to drop
  7. fall — the season
  8. bulb — for light
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. foot — a measure
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. mate — a friend
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. firm — steady
  15. mate — to breed
  16. firm — a company
  17. stand — to bear
  18. fall — to drop
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. mate — a partner
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. firm — decided
  23. bulb — for light
  24. foot — the bottom

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