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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: nail · foot · pitcher · chair · shower · jam · arm · can

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. can — a tin
  7. chair — to sit on
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. chair — a professorship
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. can — a tin
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. shower — to wash
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. shower — rain
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. foot — a measure
  22. can — to be able to
  23. chair — a leader
  24. jam — a tight spot

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