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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: mouse · saw · degree · cabinet · arm · stand · bear · mug

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. saw — the tool
  5. mug — a cup
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. degree — an amount
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. bear — the animal
  13. degree — from a university
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. mug — to rob
  16. mug — a face
  17. stand — to bear
  18. bear — the animal
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. saw — the tool
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. degree — temperature

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