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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 120 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. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. net — for catching
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. bass — the fish
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. saw — the tool
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. stem — a stem cell
  15. bass — low music
  16. net — after costs
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. stem — to come from
  19. saw — the tool
  20. sharp — clever
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. net — in sport
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. temple — a place of worship

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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