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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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Have you settled on a ________________?
  2. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. rest — what's left
  3. date — the fruit
  4. rest — what's left
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. bank — for money
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. bank — for money
  9. suit — clothes
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. band — a music group
  12. suit — in cards
  13. band — a ring
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. bank — of a river
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. suit — to fit
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. band — a rubber band
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. rest — a break
  24. sharp — clever

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