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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: mug · mine · club · leaves · wave · arm · toast · hand

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  10. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  11. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  21. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  24. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. mug — a cup
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. club — for dancing
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. wave — of the sea
  10. club — a group
  11. mine — an explosive
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. mug — to rob
  14. club — for golf
  15. mug — a face
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. hand — in cards
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. mine — for digging
  21. hand — help
  22. toast — bread
  23. wave — a sudden rise
  24. hand — part of the body

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