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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: foot · ground · can · saw · rest · prune · bore · cabinet

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. There's no middle ________________.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  19. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  20. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  24. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. can — a tin
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. rest — a break
  7. saw — the tool
  8. ground — a position
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. bore — to tire
  11. foot — a measure
  12. bore — to drill
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. saw — the tool
  15. can — to be able to
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. can — a tin
  18. ground — crushed
  19. rest — what's left
  20. prune — to trim
  21. prune — to trim
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. ground — the earth
  24. rest — what's left

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