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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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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: can · rest · ball · mug · sharp · fan · chair · foot

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. chair — a leader
  4. can — a tin
  5. ball — a dance
  6. rest — a break
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. rest — what's left
  9. mug — a cup
  10. mug — to rob
  11. can — to be able to
  12. rest — what's left
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. sharp — clever
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. can — a tin
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. chair — to sit on
  20. ball — a great time
  21. chair — a professorship
  22. mug — a face
  23. foot — a measure
  24. fan — to cool the air

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