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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. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  9. That was a fun ________________.
  10. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  11. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  14. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. plane — a tool
  3. suit — clothes
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. chest — of your body
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. firm — a company
  9. game — a match
  10. chest — a box
  11. game — a kind of play
  12. bass — low music
  13. chest — of your body
  14. firm — decided
  15. bass — the fish
  16. firm — steady
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. game — wild animals
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. trunk — of a tree
  22. suit — in cards
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. suit — to fit

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