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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.

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: chair · toast · ball · sharp · snap · foot · suit · bore

  1. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. snap — to click
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. ball — a great time
  6. chair — a professorship
  7. sharp — clever
  8. foot — a measure
  9. snap — to snap out of it
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. suit — to fit
  14. snap — to speak sharply
  15. bore — to tire
  16. chair — to sit on
  17. suit — clothes
  18. suit — in cards
  19. chair — a leader
  20. bore — to drill
  21. toast — bread
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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