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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: fine · chip · arm · cabinet · foot · fork · wax · stem

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  21. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. chip — in a computer
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. chip — for betting
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. fork — a garden tool
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. wax — to grow
  12. fork — to eat with
  13. foot — a measure
  14. fine — all right
  15. chip — to eat
  16. stem — to come from
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. stem — a stem cell
  21. fork — in a road
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. stem — of a plant
  24. fine — high quality

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