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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: arm · bore · bowl · cap · rush · snap · staff · foot

  1. My father caught me by the ________________.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  20. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. snap — to speak sharply
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. cap — a lid
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. bore — to tire
  9. staff — a stick
  10. rush — hurry
  11. bore — to drill
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. snap — to click
  15. cap — of ice
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. staff — employees
  19. cap — a hat
  20. snap — to snap out of it
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. staff — employees
  23. foot — a measure
  24. bowl — to roll

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