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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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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 · drill · lie · rest · foot · mouse · calf · safe

  1. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. We had a fire ________________ at school today.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. foot — a measure
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. drill — the tool
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. lie — to recline
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. rest — what's left
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. rest — a break
  23. rest — what's left
  24. drill — a practice

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