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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: lie · mouse · trunk · sharp · squash · bay · arm · foot

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. sharp — clever
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. squash — the sport
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. squash — to crush
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. foot — a measure
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. lie — to recline
  24. trunk — of a tree

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