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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. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. pop — music
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. pop — soda
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. craft — a handicraft
  7. mug — a face
  8. roll — a list
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. craft — a skill
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. craft — boats
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. mug — to rob
  15. mug — a cup
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. pop — to visit
  18. foot — a measure
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. roll — a cake
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. branch — a division
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. temple — side of the head

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