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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
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: land · safe · can · row · arm · jam · foot · lie

  1. My father caught me by the ________________.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. When are we going to ________________?
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. can — a tin
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. row — a line
  9. can — a tin
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. row — to paddle
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. lie — to recline
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. land — a country
  20. can — to be able to
  21. foot — a measure
  22. land — to come down
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. land — ground

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