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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 120 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: sharp · pitcher · nail · foot · rest · object · leaves · mouse

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. object — an aim
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. rest — what's left
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. object — a thing
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. object — to protest
  15. foot — a measure
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. rest — what's left
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. rest — a break
  24. sharp — clever

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