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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 · tube · stock · cabinet · staff · club · charge

  1. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. club — for dancing
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. tube — a container
  7. foot — a measure
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. tube — the underground
  10. charge — a price
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. club — a group
  13. staff — employees
  14. stock — shares
  15. charge — in control
  16. charge — electricity
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. staff — a stick
  23. club — for golf
  24. stock — goods

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