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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: arm · hand · bay · rock · saw · object · foot · charge

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. saw — the tool
  3. saw — the tool
  4. rock — music
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. foot — a measure
  7. object — an aim
  8. rock — a stone
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. object — to protest
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. hand — part of the body
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. object — a thing
  17. charge — a price
  18. charge — electricity
  19. hand — in cards
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. hand — help
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. charge — in control
  24. foot — the bottom

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