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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: foot · arm · sharp · track · mouse · tear · chip · safe

  1. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. foot — a measure
  5. track — a song
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. tear — from crying
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. sharp — clever
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. track — to keep track
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. tear — to rip
  17. chip — to eat
  18. track — a path
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. tear — from crying
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. chip — for betting
  24. mouse — the animal

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